MedCities’ working group on Integrated Solid Waste Management is developing this year an online capacity-building programme on technological and digital solutions in municipal waste management, thanks to the support of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

In July, two webinars gathered eight MedCities member cities—Al Fayhaa, Ein Al-Basha, Jerash, Higher Chouf, Irbid, Málaga, M’Saken, and Zgharta-Ehden—along with representatives of Libyan municipalities, with the support of GIZ Libya.

The first session (9 July) introduced key concepts related to efficient municipal waste management and the appropriate technological solutions applicable within the sector, such as kerbside collection with Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) models, user identification systems, fill level sensors for containers, and weighing systems in waste collection vehicles. The importance of biowaste was stressed because it is the largest fraction of municipal waste management.

Read the 1st session presentation here.

This is the presentation made by MedCities.

The second session (15 July) offered hands-on training on a Decision Support Web Tool (DSWT) to evaluate urban biowaste systems across environmental, economic, and social indicators. It considers the impacts associated with all stages of the biowaste (and residual waste) management system (i.e. generation, separation at source, collection from generation sources to the first waste facility, pre-treatment, treatment, final disposal, use of bio-based products, and transport between different facilities).

Read the 2nd session presentation here.

A short mentoring programme will follow in autumn, supporting three selected municipalities in implementing the DSWT and advancing sustainable local waste strategies.