DUSHANBE, October 1, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The unit for implementation of the second phase of the Dushanbe Solid Waster Management Project has been set up in Dushanbe and Jamshed Laqayev has been appointed to head this unit, Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor, told Asia-Plus today.

The second phase of the project is scheduled to be implemented in three years.   

The Project objectives are to assist Dushanbe administration to rehabilitate the existing landfill site and collection points, supply new landfill equipment; and supply new collection vehicles, containers and equipment.  Other objectives include assisting the municipal authorities with reorganizing and improving solid waste collection and disposal in Dushanbe.

The project will bring substantial environmental, health and safety benefits to Dushanbe and surrounding communities by providing an adequate and affordable municipal waste management system.

Under a loan agreement signed between the Dushanbe mayor’s office and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 10.1 million U.S. dollars are allocated for implementation of the second phase of the Project.  60.4 percent of this amount is grant funds ($4 million investment grant of the Government of the Netherlands, $1.348 million is a joint technical assistance of the Government of Sweden and the EBRD Grant Fund and 39) and 39.6 percent is long-term loans, the spokesman said.