Solid Waste Management and Rubble Removal in Eight Communities in Quneitra Governorate

Due to the on-going conflict, emigration of qualified staff, lack of funding, and scarcity of reliable waste collection trucks and associated equipment, 

utility service providers have been unable to adequately perform waste collection duties. These factors have resulted in waste piling up at various locations within residential areas, causing repulsive environmental and hygien conditions.

Also, the lack of any pest and insect control has led to the spread of rodents and communicable diseases among the population. In particular, cutaneous leishmaniasis, scabies, and lice have all spread, leading to the potential for public health epidemics.

In spite of the inadequate availability of equipment and funds on a regular basis some members of the community continue to provide services voluntarily. However, the lack of proper safety clothing and equipment puts these committed and resilient individuals at direct risk of health problems.

Thus, in order to address and remedy the aforementioned problems, this project focuses on rehabilitating solid waste and rubble removal services in eight municipalities and 18 adjacent villages in Quneitra governorate. The project intends to re-establish cleaning and waste management services by providing the implementing entity with the appropriate inputs so that tthey can adequately establish a workable system and operation to collect waste (domestic and rubble) and transport it to nearby landfills.

Such a plan calls for the procurement and supply of the required equipment, including:

• Construction equipment (small and medium-sized) for waste collection and management at landfills;
• Hydraulic refuse collection trucks for domestic waste;
• Hydraulic dump trucks for rubble removal;
• tractors with trailers for waste collection in small village communities within the selected project locations;
• Garbage containers (metal bins) for waste disposal and easier collection in residential areas;
• Knapsack and trailer-hitched mist-sprayers for insecticides against flies, mosquitos, and other pests;
• Required spare parts for maintenance of existing equipment (construction equipment and tractor-trailer units);
• Fast-moving spare parts for all new and repaired equipment; and
• Basic tools, safety gear, and clothing for maintenance crews.

In addition to the aforementioned fixed and consumable assets, the project will assist the IE with the procurement of civil works for rehabilitation of one municipality service center that had been destroyed earlier in the conflict and rehabilitation of municipalities’ service centers (e.g., civil works consisting of construction, plumbing, electrical works, and provision of furniture, IT equipment and stationery).

Moreover, the project will help the IE and associated Local Councils organize awareness campaigns on sanitation and waste disposal best practices, including promoting the use of garbage bags for disposal of domestic waste within the project locations. It will also make funds available for the operational and institutional needs of the IE, including salaries for 12 months to key technical personnel (i.e. engineers, technicians, drivers, laborers, and personnel administrators who will be implementing the project).

Once well-equipped and organized, the IE will be able to establish and run an effective utility service which can frequently and adequately provide solid waste removal services. The introduction of such services shall have direct effect on living environment in the target communities and mitigating public health crises. The estimated duration of the project is 24 months including the mentoring and evaluation period, it will directly benefit around 88,700 people in the targeted communities and 56,400 people indirectly in the adjacent areas.

For further information, please see:

The SRTF Management Committee approves three new projects worth EUR 10.3 million to boost food security, health and solid waste management in Syria