The lack of a waste management system is a major challenge for local and regional authorities in Algeria. The consequences are air pollution, pollution of the groundwater as well as of surface water, soil contamination and hygienic and health risks for the population.
In early May adelphi, Pöyry Environment GmbH and Atlas Environnement developed and conducted a training with 32 representatives of Algerian municipalities, ministries and with landfill operators on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The four-day capacity building focused on technical, design, as well as financial and organizational aspects of landfill planning and operation. Furthermore, the legal and institutional framework and the basic principles of integrated waste management in Algeria were discussed. In addition to the theoretical part of the program the training group visited the sanitary landfill site in Tlemcen, a pilot example of Algerian waste management, which has been constructed with a base liner and is operated in a controlled manner.
The training was the first of six training within the framework of GIZ’s regional program “Strengthening the educational- and training capacities in the environmental sector in the Maghreb countries”. Other key issues that will be covered in the capacity building are communication and public awareness, optimization and operation of waste collection systems as well as hygiene and safety standards at collection, transportation and disposal of waste. The objective of the training is to collectively develop recommendations for the improvement of the local situation.