1. www.bef.lv Possible models for cooperation among municipalities Ingrida Bremere, Baltic Environmental Forum, Latvia Seminar on waste and EU requirements, 28-29 October 2008, Ohrid, Macedonia

2. www.bef.lv Prerequisites for cooperation of municipalities Setting of regional waste management structures: –Planning and building of the regional waste landfill –Preparing of the regional waste management plan However, municipalities in the region differs in  Size (area, population)  Geographical location (some are closer to the waste management structure, some are in larger distance for reach)  Economic development level

3. www.bef.lv How to sustain the cooperation? Duration of cooperation:  Created for implementation of certain task/obligation in waste management  Set for permanent operation (e.g., regional landfill management structure) Participation level of a municipality:  Direct involvement of a delegated representative to the management board of regional structures  Municipalities created executive structure (e.g., agency) fulfilling tasks to their mandate

4. www.bef.lv How many municipalities shall cooperate in the region? Involvement of all municipalities in the region: “+” Common decisions are taken in implementation process “-”Reaching of agreement may be hindered by high number of involved stakeholders Involvement of some interested municipalities in the region: “+” Faster reaching of agreements, higher flexibility in decision making process “-” Municipalities in the region are not in equal preconditions for waste management options

5. www.bef.lv Involving all municipalities in the region Regional waste management organization Regional waste management organization is established by a decision of all municipalities in the region – all have equal voting rights Regional organization – Company (Ltd) - service provider  Aims to provide high quality service to physical and legal persons in waste collection and deposition  Reports to the assembly of founders (municipalities)  Daily work is organized by the Member of the Board

6. www.bef.lv Regional organization – service provider Activities in waste management field: –Waste collection –Organization of separate waste collection in the region –Storage and treatment of waste streams –Operation of the waste landfill Environmental awareness raising activities to customers However, one service provider organization (established by municipalities) does not “open the door” to other service providers in the region thus hindering the market development

7. www.bef.lv Involving some municipalities in the region Regional waste management organization Regional waste management organization is established by a decision of some municipalities in the region Regional organization – Agency - service organizer  Aims to organize waste management according to provisions set by law on municipalities (oblige to organize communal services in their territory)  Supervised by a Board (representatives from founder municipalities)  Daily work is organized by a Director of the Agency

8. www.bef.lv Regional Agency – service organizer Organization of waste management activities in the region: –Service contracting of waste management organizations for waste management services (waste collection, treatment, transport, deposition) –Management of large international projects in the waste management (within the competencies of the Agency) –Organization of building of the regional waste landfill –May be licensed to perform environmental awareness raising activities to customers (delegated task from municipalities) However, Involvement of only several municipalities results in higher financial burden of these municipalities for large investment project financing Unequal conditions for non-represented municipalities (buying waste management service, e.g. in landfill)