Social Acceptance of Waste Management Facilities A real challenge Experience from Tunisia

Tunisian Constitution 2014 Solid Waste Management Program PRONAGDES 1993 Solid waste act 1996 Sweep Net 2015 – Social Acceptance of Waste Management Facilities2 Waste Management in Tunisia – Key Elements (international and local) Sustainable financing instruments Clear political will Regional concept National utility for central facilities ANGed Broad donor support Private sector involvement Sector Development Solid waste program PRONGID 2008 Basic solid waste infrastructure implemented

Waste Management in Tunisia – Infrastructure 3 in operation 10 regional landfills around 43 transfer stations Planned / under construction 5 regional landfills around 45 transfer stations Under preparation 3 regional landfills around 45 transfer stations No sanitary landfill planned Sweep Net 2015 – Social Acceptance of Waste Management Facilities

4 Situation after the revolution Rejection of waste management facilities (i.e. sanitary landfills) by the neighborhood population Negative perception and information in the media Blockage of existing and planned waste management facilities (construction sites) Risk of emergency situation due to lack of disposal facilities (wild dumping of waste) Irony: the rejection of the current facilities leads to a situation that is even worse

Sweep Net 2015 – Social Acceptance of Waste Management Facilities5 Potential Explanations Post revolution effects NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) and unrealistic expectations (zero waste, miracle technologies) Lack of information and participation during the implementation of the facilities No procedures and practice and culture for structured public consultation processes in the different project stages

Sweep Net 2015 – Social Acceptance of Waste Management Facilities6 Ways to overcome the crisis I An approach/ procedures for improvement of the public acceptance needs to be developed and implemented Technical assistance for ANGed (supported by KfW): Neighborhood population needs to be integrated and adequately informed (not only) during the consultation in the frame of the EIA Establishment of a complaint management system Creation of benefits/ compensation for the affected population (i.e. employment opportunities)

Sweep Net 2015 – Social Acceptance of Waste Management Facilities7 Ways to overcome the crisis II The acceptance of the population can only be achieved if all efforts to minimize the required landfill capacity and the nuisance of the facilities have been undertaken: Separation of recyclable waste fractions at the source via a collection system - conduction of pilot tests (supported by KfW) Reduction of required landfill volume and landfill gas/ leachate generation through biological-mechanical waste treatment prior to landfilling - pre treatment strategy (supported by KfW)

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