For about 75 years, the largest landfill in Armenia has been operating in Yerevan, the capital. The area of the Nubarashen landfill site is 52 hectares, and every year 365,000–440,000 tons of household waste are transported there. The landfill site does not meet any technical, environmental, or sanitary-hygienic standards—it is merely a site for the accumulation of waste. Especially during hot weather, frequent fires break out at the landfill, spreading toxic smoke and foul odors over the city.
For years, the Yerevan Municipality has promised to solve this issue through “Yerevan Solid Household Waste Management Program.” The program envisioned the reclamation of the existing Nubarashen landfill site and the construction of a new sanitary landfill nearby, with total funding of €26 million — including €8 million loans each from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), €8 million in grants from the European Union, and €2 million in grants from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P). However, the project was cancelled.
More than a year ago, Mayor Tigran Avinyan announced that a new program was being discussed with the World Bank, but meanwhile, the Nubarashen landfill continues to harm people and the environment.
The problem of the Nubarashen landfill was discussed during the joint session of the Standing Committees on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environmental Protection, and on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia held on October 31.
MP Garnik Danielyan raised a question to Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan, noting: “For a long time, the Nubarashen landfill site issue has remained unresolved. If I’m not mistaken, there was a decision to implement a two-phase waste recycling plant project, which, if implemented, would solve the problem of waste volumes but not the fire hazards, according to experts. Fires and the resulting health damage will continue. I recall that, at one point, the Japanese installed gas extraction stations over 7 hectares of Nubarashen site. I’d like to hear why that project wasn’t continued, why it no longer exists, given that experts believe it could have solved the fire problem. These installations cost several million euros, but managing such issues is extremely important.”
In response, Minister Davit Khudatyan stated: “We have commissioned landfills in Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions. For the study of four landfills and sixteen transfer stations, 338.4 million drams are allocated for 2026. Once the studies are complete, we will determine whether we truly need four, or perhaps three or five, and in which areas. Among the options under consideration is also the possibility of building one within Yerevan.”
During the same session, MP Garnik Danielyan asked Mayor Tigran Avinyan about the construction timeline of the waste recycling plant, to which Avinyan replied: “The landfill problem is a 75-year-old problem. We recognize it as one of our most important priorities. It cannot be solved within a year. We currently have two parallel processes. Process No. 1 – we are organizing a two-phase tender based on proposals received from private partners. The first phase will soon be announced. At least four major companies have expressed interest. In this phase, the companies will present their conceptual solutions, including how they envision a new recycling facility. The Yerevan Municipality will select the most acceptable proposal and move to Phase 2. In parallel, together with Minister Khudatyan, we are working with international financial partners who have their own comprehensive proposals for solving the problem nationwide. The only concern there is timing — how efficiently we can proceed within a reasonable timeframe. Eventually, after discussions, we’ll decide which approach ensures the best and fastest results, since the risks of fires and environmental damage have grown significantly.”
According to waste management expert and program manager Harutyun Alpetian, lecturer at the AUA Acopian Environmental Center, “The issue of fires at the Nubarashen landfill can be solved if a biogas extraction system is installed throughout the entire landfill area. Strict supervision should also be maintained to prevent risks. Currently, a biogas collection and flaring system operates over only 7 hectares of the landfill.”
Back on March 10, 2009, the Yerevan Municipality signed an agreement under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol with the Japanese Shimizu Corporation to implement a biogas collection and flaring project at the Nubarashen landfill. The program aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental and sanitary conditions. After the agreement expired in 2022, the facility was transferred free of charge to “Yerevan New Landfill” company. The Shimizu Corporation had proposed expanding the system across the entire landfill and using the collected biogas to generate electricity, but the proposal was rejected—a decision criticized by experts, who believe this method could have solved both the landfill management and fire problems. “A landfill that has been in use for 70 years may serve another 4–5 years at best. We have a chance to stop dumping waste there within five years if new capacity is established. Ideally, Yerevan should aggressively expand its waste sorting program so that the entire city is covered with separate waste bins. It’s been five years since separate collection for recyclable waste was partially implemented—starting with 130 collection points. The city needs ten times more. But that requires major investments,” said Alpetian.
“Sorting will allow us to handle dry recyclable waste, which makes up 20–25% of total municipal solid waste. About 50% is organic waste, which can be converted into biogas and compost. The remaining 20–25% residual waste can be placed in a sanitary landfill. All options are on the table—the key issue is cost. One must always remember that every ton of waste processed or recycled has a price, so a cost-benefit analysis is essential. Only then can we determine whether it’s more efficient to generate energy from landfill waste or simply burn the gas in special furnaces. Any waste can be reused—the question is at what cost. We must develop waste prevention, reduction, and reuse strategies or plans,” the expert added.
This material was produced within the framework of “Waste Policy in Armenia” (WPA) project implemented by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, with financial support from Sweden and technical support from AUA.
The views, conclusions, and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the project, the American University of Armenia, or the Government of Sweden.
November 07, 2025 at 16:03