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Success Story

Photo: Urban Institute

The Mayor of Kulob watches as workers deposit the first load of garbage into the city’s new landfill. With support from USAID, the city government was able to resolve its waste disposal problem, improving living standards and sanitation for residents of Kulob City.

Until last year, the people of Kulob, Tajikistan had limited or no access to a landfill or waste disposal service. The nearest landfill was 17 kilometers outside of the city and inaccessible because the gravel road had been washed away. Consequently, residents were forced to dispose of waste in makeshift dumps in their own neighborhoods. Although this was recognized as a problem, there seemed to be no viable alternative.

USAID responded by helping to train local government officials and engineers on waste disposal management. One government official, Pirmadhon Zaripov, who participated in a USAID-sponsored study tour to Hungary, noted, “Many good things that I saw in Hungary were vivid examples of the fact that most issues have simple and doable solutions.”

With the knowledge gained in the trainings, Kulob’s city council developed an action plan to construct a landfill. The council then approached USAID for technical assistance and a $10,000 grant, and invested $7,000 of city’s funds into the project.

In October 2004, the city celebrated the opening of the new landfill — the first new landfill in Tajikistan in over 20 years. Within one year, the government had effectively closed all the unofficial dumps within and around Kulob city, greatly improving the appearance and sanitation of the city and the quality of life of its inhabitants.

After the landfill was built, Kulyob could finally clean up the garbage that had been piling up in the city for years. The newly built landfill is closer to the city than the old one and is reached by paved roads, making it accessible even in winter. Additionally, USAID-sponsored capacity-building trainings have ensured that Kulob’s Housing and Utility Department will be able to manage the landfill in a sustainable manner. The citizens and businesses of Kulob now pay a monthly fee for garbage collection. With proper use, the landfill should serve the city’s needs for eight to 10 years.

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