Projet CLIMA

Innovative Actions for Pollution Reduction in the Mediterranean: Reducing Waste to Boost Economies : (CLIMA)

Issue:

Poor management of organic waste is one of the most significant challenges for the coming years. It is necessary to find sustainable and innovative methods of selective waste collection to address the challenges of climate change and ultimately promote sustainable development in the Mediterranean. Adopting the vision of a “zero waste society” has become imperative. Since 2020, most EU Member States have been reusing and recycling at least 50% of their municipal waste, landfilling less than 35% of biodegradable waste, and recycling at least 55% of packaging. However, forecasts are not achievable for North African countries. The CLIMA project and its regional consortium brought together municipalities, public bodies, and NGOs from Italy, Tunisia, and Lebanon to address the environmental, economic, and social issues of poor organic waste management in three Mediterranean countries. The project developed policy tools such as Municipal Integrated Waste Management Plans (MWMP/PCGD), innovative technical solutions such as drum composting and the establishment of 2 composting sites, as well as support actions for territorial businesses engaged in the circular economy. Information and advocacy campaigns were also conducted to influence attitudes toward the zero-waste and circular economy paradigm, both at the public and industrial levels. Through the project, about 80,000 citizens across 3 Mediterranean municipalities benefited from reduced waste production thanks to increased organic waste treatment and the visible closure of the production/consumption cycle

Partners : CLIMA project involved several partners :

Beneficiary: Comune di Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy

PP01: International Center for Environmental Technologies of Tunis (CITET)

PP02: COSPE Association: Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti Onlus, Tuscany, Italy

PP03: ARCENCIEL, Beirut, Lebanon

PP04: Municipality of Mahdia, Tunisia

PP05: Municipality of Bikfaya, Lebanon

Duration: 50 months, from September 15, 2019, to November 14, 2023.

General Objective : Contribute to reducing waste production by strengthening sorting policies and technologies and by economically valorizing the organic component

Specific Objective : Upgrade waste cycle management in pilot municipal areas in Italy, Lebanon, and Tunisia with increased sorting and economic valorization of the organic component as a secondary raw material

- Create circular economy streams at the territorial level in targeted Mediterranean countries.

- Consume fewer natural resources and avoid chemical inputs.

- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

- Address climate change challenges to promote sustainable development in the Mediterranean

PROJECT STEPS

WP1 : Management

- Activity 1.1.1: Identification of project managers to be appointed by each partner

- Activity 1.1.2: Preparation and signature of the consortium agreement

- Activity 1.2.1: Administration and finances

- Activity 1.2.2: Coordination, decision-making and conflict resolution

- Activity 1.2.3: Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance

WP2: Communication

- Activity 2.2.1: Preparation of a communication strategy

- Activity 2.2.2: Design of a communication kit and planning of a basic campaign for local information

- Activity 2.3.1: Kick-off meeting between partners

WP3: Improvement/Upgrade of Municipal Waste / Management Plans

- Activity 3.1.1: First international forum on improved MWMP (PCGD)

- Activity 3.1.2: Second international forum

- Activity 3.2.1: Technical assistance on integrating the PCGD of the 3 municipalities

- Activity 3.2.2: Workshops in the 3 territories on Monitoring & Evaluation of PCGD

WP4: Establishment of Organic Waste Recovery Units

- Activity 4.1.1: Establishment of a composting unit in Mahdia

- Activity 4.1.2: Establishment of a collection system and management of the composting unit

- Activity 4.2.1: Establishment of a membrane composting unit in Tanaayel

- Activity 4.3.1: Optimization and improvement of the designed compost drum

- Activity 4.3.2: Feasibility study for the adoption of compost drum technology in Sestri, Mahdia and Bikfaya

- Activity 4.4.1: Market analysis for the three established units

- Activity 4.4.2: Grants for 12 social enterprises

- Activity 4.4.3: Technical assistance for newly created startups

WP5: Awareness, Information and Advocacy Campaign

- Activity 5.1.1: Launch of educational campaigns for local and territorial communities

- Activity 5.2.1: Creation of visual identity for the advocacy and awareness campaign across the three territories

- Activity 5.2.2: Organization of local events and workshops

- Activity 5.2.3: Drafting and printing of promotional material for awareness and advocacy campaigns

- Activity 5.2.4: Organization of three international forums

RESULTS OBTAINED :

R1. Implementation of an organic waste sorting system:

- 1.1 Development of a multi-annual strategy for the targeted territories in Tunisia and Lebanon for organic waste recovery

- 1.2 Improved technical knowledge of beneficiaries involved in sorting and processing municipal solid waste into organic components

- 1.3 Increased recovery of almost 130 tons/month of organic waste instead of being landfilled

- 1.4 Production of better products at lower cost, boosting green small businesses and job creation based on CSR and social and solidarity economy

R2. Transformation of organic waste into secondary raw materials for market sale:

- 2.1 Recovery of tons of high-quality compost from organic waste

- 2.2 Reduction of organic waste dispersed in the countryside and surface waters, reducing organic pollution and the spread of phosphates and nitrates that negatively affect natural balance

- 2.3 Prevention of environmental pollution by organic waste, supporting closed supply chains through transformation of organic waste into high-quality secondary raw materials for agroecological practices

- 2.4 Identification of sustainable and innovative methods for selective collection and valorization of waste

- 2.5 Addressing environmental, economic and social issues of poor organic waste management in three Mediterranean countries

- 2.6 Exchange of practices and innovative approaches among targeted territories on how to integrate waste reduction into political agendas and promote community behavior change

- 2.7 Production of better products at lower cost, boosting green small businesses and job creation based on CSR and social and solidarity economy

R3. Awareness among policymakers and citizens on prevention and mitigation of social, economic, and environmental impacts of waste production on soils and waters:

- 3.1 Improved scientific and technical knowledge on the impact of organic waste on soils, water and public health

- 3.2 Increased number of citizens and policymakers aware of the need for circular and sustainable waste collection and management

- 3.3 Exchange of practices and innovative approaches among territories on how to integrate waste reduction into political agendas and how to promote community behavior change

WORK CARRIED OUT :

1- Drafting of financial and technical reports
2- Development of a communication plan based on a common strategy for the project and design of tools to achieve visibility objectives, including printed material
3- Improvement of Mahdia’s integrated PCGD with direct involvement of municipal representatives for environmental services and citizen groups, and indirect involvement of the Ministry of Environment and ANGED (Tunisia); establishment of selective sorting and collection systems for organic waste in a pilot district in Mahdia
4- Organization of an international forum on improved PCGD and publication of three best practice guides
5- Printing of promotional materials for the awareness and advocacy campaign (manuals, leaflets, brochures, posters)
6- Development of an environmental impact assessment for the composting unit
7- Provision of technical assistance to the composting unit established in Mahdia
8- Support for 6 social enterprises with innovative ideas to develop business initiatives using secondary raw materials from selective sorting or composting
9- Organization of 6 technical training sessions with municipal staff, coordinated by field agents and selected experts on PCGD integration

10- Organization of 10 meetings with trained municipal staff and selected citizen groups, coordinated by facilitators
11- Organization of 2 workshops with participation of municipal officials and citizen groups to plan the first monitoring exercise for integrated PCGD implementation on the organic component
12- Exchange of practices and innovations among target territories on how to integrate waste reduction into political agendas and community behavior change
13- A Mediterranean-wide advocacy and awareness campaign and three Mediterranean forums encouraging local authorities to revise and implement their waste management plans
14- Implementation of community information campaigns to inform citizens about objectives, changes, and improvements in the new waste recovery management system with civil society involvement