YEREVAN, Armenia — On November 18, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment hosted a roundtable on “Pathways Toward Dumpsite Closure in Armenia,” organized under the Sweden-funded Waste Policy Armenia (WPA) program. The event brought together local and national authorities, technical experts, and representatives from civil society and the private sector to explore practical strategies to improve and gradually close dumpsites, which tend to be unsanitary, across the country.
In his opening remarks, Harutyun Alpetyan, WPA program manager and waste governance expert at the AUA Acopian Center, emphasized the urgency of addressing the large number of unmanaged disposal sites in Armenia: “Closing and rehabilitating existing dumpsites is both an environmental and a public health necessity.”
Alpetyan presented an overview of the current state of unmanaged dumpsites that are highly unsanitary. He compared these with standard sanitary landfill operations, which are common practice in developed countries. While national mapping identified around 300 active dumpsites in 2020, many older sites remain open, posing ongoing risks to communities and ecosystems.
Rebecca Hollender, senior principal consultant and director of Licensed Site Remediation Professional Services at TRC Companies, USA, shared insights from international practice and recent field observations. She stressed that even with limited budgets, municipalities can significantly reduce risks through phased, low-cost interventions: “Significant risk reduction is possible with measures municipalities can implement using equipment they already have, such as better waste segregation, soil cover to manage fires, drainage improvements, and slope stabilization.” Ms. Hollender was on a short visit to Armenia as part of the AVC Professional Corps program, which places working professionals above 32 and with at least five years of work experience, to share her expertise with the AUA Acopian Center.
Sergey Hambardzumyan, director of Kotayk and Gegharkunik Solid Waste Management LLC, highlighted lessons learned from operating Armenia’s first sanitary landfill. He emphasized that infrastructure investments must be paired with trained personnel, proper site management, and community cooperation to ensure long-term environmental benefits.
Saghatel Petrosyan, head of the Department of Water, Atmosphere, Soil, Waste, and Hazardous Materials Control at the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body of Armenia, explained regulatory oversight. “The Inspection Body monitors unauthorized dumping and enforces compliance,” he said. “Violators may face administrative penalties, and in cases of damages exceeding 500,000 AMD, cases are referred to law enforcement. Local authorities also supervise improper land use and illegal waste disposal, ensuring accountability.”
Participants engaged in discussions on phased closure strategies, prioritizing high-risk sites while making incremental improvements at others until full engineered closure is feasible. The potential for beneficial post-closure uses, such as solar energy development on stabilized sites, was also explored.
Municipal representatives highlighted the value of intersectoral cooperation, noting that the roundtable provided a platform for shared problem-solving. “Collaboration between local authorities, national institutions, and civil society is key. Discussions like this help us move from awareness to actionable steps toward safer waste management,” one participant noted.
The event concluded with a commitment to continue developing practical recommendations that will support Armenia’s transition from open dumping to safe, modern, and environmentally sound waste disposal systems.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, and information technology and the environment. Visit ace.aua.am.
The Swedish-funded “Waste Policy Armenia” program is implemented by the Acopian Center for the Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia. Visit ace.aua.am/projects/waste_policy/.
