Mayor of Ulaanbaatar D.Sumiyabazar received delegations of the National Research Council of Italy and the Development Innovation and Service Research Institute headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Mongolia Laura Botta on Monday.
The parties exchanged views on the 3R4UB Project, which aims to improve waste management in Ulaanbaatar and support a green economy. Additionally, the parties agreed to sign a memorandum of cooperation on the Tuul and Selbe River Area Improvement Project.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Ulaanbaatar mayor expressed his satisfaction with the 3R4UB project being jointly implemented until 2024 to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. Aimed at creating green development, this project is a trend of global development, reducing carbon emissions, and thus using natural resources efficiently, he said. He added that it is important to improve waste management, convey the right call to citizens to reduce waste and properly separate waste. Mayor D.Sumiyabazar expressed his readiness to provide necessary support in all aspects. Also, he expressed interest in cooperating on human resources training in the field where the project is implemented.
Ambassador L Botta emphasized that while research and its findings are important, the key factors that make them effective are policies and decisions. As part of the 3R4UB Project, the waste recycling plant in Songinokhairkhan District is being repaired. Additionally, the Development Innovation and Service Research Institute delegations said that they will prepare a master plan based on the waste management and problems of Ulaanbaatar.
During the meeting, the parties discussed future cooperation and the Italian delegation said that it could cooperate in reducing traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar, providing engineering and technical assistance and developing professional and methodological plans.
An average of 1.3 million tons of domestic and industrial waste is generated in the capital and Ulaanbaatar has the capacity to recycle 11.4 percent of it. There are a total of 34 waste recycling plants registered in the city and 14 organizations are currently active. They mainly recycle plastic and brown paper.
