Project OptiWaMag concludes diagnosis of waste management systems and starts a new phase of work
The OptiWaMag project seeks innovation in urban waste management policies. Six European entities from Portugal, Sweden, Latvia, Greece, Hungary and Italy constitute an interregional and inter-institutional collaborative partnership for the exchange of experiences and good practices, co-learning and knowledge transfer. The purpose of this partnership is to develop regional action plans that can improve the efficiency of the waste sector.
The work plan now begins its third semester, with slight constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The second and third international partner meetings, scheduled respectively for Budapest and Lousada, were developed in a virtual setting. Similarly, meetings with stakeholders and other regional stakeholders have been conducted in a digital manner.
During the first year of work, the partners, in collaboration with their local groups of experts and consultants, developed an in-depth diagnosis of the domestic and urban waste management system of their region. A statistical tool was also developed to standardize the codification of responses and contributions, and to visually present the main conclusions of each region.
At the international meeting on October 13 and 14, the partners presented and discussed the final results of their diagnosis, listing the strengths and constraints of each system.
The next steps of the project will focus on the development of an action plan with concrete proposals to improve the waste management systems and to enhance strategic regulations and policy documents.
Inter-regional co-learning processes will also be strengthened by research and mapping of replicable good practices in waste management and valorization.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 2021 in Italy and is likely to be held in a digital environment as well.
OptiWaMag project is made possible by the financial support from the European Union – the Interreg Europe programme and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
