A new pilot initiative in the field of waste management has been launched in Armenia, where producers themselves are becoming the driving force behind change.
Through a joint initiative of three major companies-Coca-Cola HBC Armenia CJSC, Yerevan Brandy Company CJSC, and Jermuk International Pepsi-Cola Bottler LLC-EcoPack Armenia Producer Responsibility Foundation was established. The initiative aims to implement the pilot program “Improving Packaging Waste Management in Hrazdan.”
In the spring of 2025, the EcoPack Armenia Foundation and the Hrazdan Municipality signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the pilot program in Hrazdan’s Microdistrict neighborhood, which has a population of approximately 10,000 residents.
Through this initiative, producers are preparing for the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. The draft Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Extended Producer Responsibility” has already been circulated on the e-draft.am platform.
At present, EcoPack Armenia is the only producer responsibility organization operating in Armenia.
Vanuhi Bareghamyan, responsible for development programs at the Hrazdan Municipality, noted that the idea of introducing waste sorting in the community emerged when Armenia’s first and currently only sanitary landfill was commissioned in Hrazdan in the summer of 2025.
“We began our core activities in July of this year. Our budget for this year is around EUR 80,000, of which 70 percent has already been spent,” said Mher Sahakyan, Director of the EcoPack Armenia Producer Responsibility Foundation. In the Microdistrict neighborhood, 70 waste containers have been installed at 35 locations, with two containers at each site-one for glass and one for mixed waste. Recyclable household waste is being collected. Sorting is carried out by West Management LLC, while collection services are provided by Makrutyun LLC.
Mher Sahakyan outlined the practical challenges faced during implementation: “There is still no market, no infrastructure, and no service providers. This process and the underlying principles are new to Armenia. We do not yet have a developed and diverse range of services.” According to him, there is no discussion of profit at this stage. He emphasized that until the EPR law is adopted, it remains difficult to attract additional producers, as participation is often perceived as an additional financial burden.
Awareness-raising activities have been carried out among residents, and positive changes in public behavior are already being observed, Mher Sahakyan noted.
Civil society representatives participating in the meeting emphasized the importance of launching waste sorting across the entire community and proposed cooperation with EcoPack Armenia to conduct joint awareness campaigns. The proposal received a positive response.
The meeting held in Hrazdan was initiated by Ecolur Informational NGO within the framework of the subprogram “Get Informed and Support Introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility System in the Republic of Armenia for the Benefit of a Healthy Environment,” implemented under the broader project “Waste Policy in Armenia.”
The project is implemented by the Acopian Center for the Environment at the American University of Armenia (AUA), with funding from the Government of Sweden.
This material was created within “Waste Policy Armenia” (WPA) program, funded by Sweden and implemented by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, with financial support from Sweden and technical support from AUA.
The views, conclusions, and opinions presented belong to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the program, the American University of Armenia, or the Government of Sweden.
December 25, 2025 at 13:56