The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture hosted the presentation of the World Bank project 'Diagnosis of Plastic Pollution and Technical Assistance'.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture hosted the presentation of the World Bank project "Diagnosis of Plastic Pollution and Technical Assistance".

Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, attended the event.

Mr. Klaus Sattler, the World Bank's Adviser on plastic pollution prevention, delivered a presentation of the new project, which aims to identify points of plastic pollution in the basin of the Rioni River and its tributaries (rivers: Pichora, Tekhura, Khvrila, Dzirula, Tstskenistskali) and estimate the amount of plastic. The project also includes the analysis of legislative and policy documents, aiming to develop relevant recommendations for reducing river pollution. Consequently, the Ministry will have thorough information on pollution, on the one hand, and recommendations for applying the best European practices on the other.

"We should mention that the country has already taken effective steps to prevent plastic waste. We have technical regulations, and a national plastic waste prevention program has been developed. The new project is important to tackle the problem of plastic pollution. As you know, plastic pollution poses a threat to rivers, the ecosystem as a whole, and the health of the population. The new project will significantly help us to fulfill our goals", said Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili.

The project "Diagnosis of Plastic Pollution and Technical Assistance" was initiated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. The project, funded by the World Bank, will be implemented by an International Consulting Company (COWI) and a local partner, the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus).