CIRCULAR ECONOMY PERSPECTIVES

Recently, within the framework of the project of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, together with Econline International LLC and DEKONTA, hosted the final webinar "Capacity Building in Turkmenistan: Circular Economy and Waste Management" with representatives of waste recycling companies, where the recommendations for the current National Strategy for Waste Management were discussed.

Taking into account the educational focus of the project, at the initial stage of its implementation, a project website was created, the content of which is constantly being supplemented and which will be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Turkmenistan.

It should be noted that the organizers held several webinars last year to raise awareness of government agencies and organizations, private enterprises, scientific institutions, public associations and the population about the negative consequences of improper waste management for the environment, as well as about the standards and legislation of the European Union in this sphere.

International experts demonstrated the best and available technologies, best international industry practice, as well as modern waste management strategies to the webinar participants. With the help of circular experts, best practices from the region and the European Union were reviewed and examined in detail.

The most interested "round table" in the field of waste management was held with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and businessmen of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan. They discussed the issues of recycling, as well as the forms and methods of introducing the principle of extended producer responsibility. Special attention was paid to the development of the National Waste Management Strategy of Turkmenistan.

Based on the results of the webinars held in an interactive format, it was concluded that it is necessary to develop a unified national strategy for Turkmenistan on waste management, harmonized with modern international trends in this sphere.

Participants of educational webinars were awarded personal certificates, and all previously prepared reference materials and presentations were placed in the file storage of Ecoline International LLC and transferred to the webinar participants for further use.

As a result of the final webinar, which was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, the Ashgabat khyakimlik, the Toprak business association, the Makhmal FE, VET Tebigi Kuvvat and other organizations, the thoroughness and comprehensive coverage of the proposed recommendations for waste management in Turkmenistan was noted.

The participants agreed that the adoption of a unified strategy for waste management, as well as consistency in the work of ministries and departments, the private sector and academic organizations, will allow to develop systematic work in this area and develop strategic goals and objectives for the application of the circular economy.