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In recent years, Georgia’s construction sector has experienced particularly rapid growth. New residential developments, infrastructure projects, and commercial facilities are being implemented at an increasing pace. This expansion is naturally accompanied by significant challenges in the field of waste management, as the volume of construction-related waste generated annually exceeds two million tonnes. Despite the scale of the issue, a comprehensive and well-organized system for the management of construction and demolition waste has yet to be fully established in the country.
Construction waste comprises materials generated during the construction, reconstruction, renovation, and demolition of buildings and structures. These materials include concrete, bricks, excavated soil, timber, metals, glass, plastics, and other construction-related materials. Under Georgia’s Waste Management Code, many of these materials are generally classified as inert waste. Accordingly, they do not undergo significant physical, chemical, or biological transformations and do not normally participate in reactions that would directly contaminate soil or water.
However, classification as inert waste should not be interpreted as an indication that such materials are environmentally harmless. Uncontrolled disposal can result in land degradation, landscape disturbance, obstruction of waterways, and other adverse environmental impacts. Furthermore, certain construction materials, including asbestos-containing materials, fall within the category of hazardous waste and therefore require substantially stricter handling, transportation, and disposal procedures.
Construction Waste Management in Georgia
According to Georgia’s national waste management strategy, the recycling and recovery of construction and demolition waste remain insufficiently developed. Dedicated disposal facilities for this type of waste are largely unavailable. Certain quantities of construction waste are used by municipalities for backfilling and land reclamation purposes, while other materials are disposed of at municipal landfills and mixed with household waste. At the same time, illegal and uncontrolled dumping remains particularly visible in rural areas, along riverbanks, and alongside roads.
Against this background, the experience of the European Union is particularly relevant. Construction and demolition waste represents more than one-third of all waste generated in the EU, making its effective management a priority within European environmental policy. Georgia, within the framework of its Association Agreement with the European Union, is likewise moving progressively towards the implementation of European waste management principles and standards.
What Obligations Do Companies Have in Relation to Waste Management?
Georgia’s Waste Management Code establishes specific thresholds for determining which individuals and legal entities are required to develop and submit a waste management plan.
Under the applicable requirements, an individual or legal entity whose activities generate more than 200 tonnes of non-hazardous waste or more than 400 tonnes of inert waste annually is required to prepare a waste management plan. In relation to hazardous waste, the applicable threshold during the transitional period is 120 kilograms per year. The relevant documentation must be submitted to the competent authority, updated every three years, and contain detailed information on the types and quantities of waste generated, as well as the methods used for its collection, storage, treatment, recovery, and disposal.
The transitional arrangements remain in force until 2028, after which the relevant requirements concerning hazardous waste are expected to apply irrespective of the quantity generated.
What Risks Arise from Non-Compliance with Environmental Regulations?
Georgian legislation establishes specific sanctions for environmental pollution and illegal waste disposal. Pursuant to Article 32 of the Waste Management Code, pollution of the environment with one cubic metre of waste may result in a GEL 2,000 fine for a legal entity. Where the volume ranges from 10 to 50 cubic metres, the financial penalty may reach GEL 15,000, while pollution involving more than 50 cubic metres may result in a fine of GEL 30,000.
In addition to paying the applicable fine, the responsible party is required to remove the waste and fully clean the contaminated area. In the event of a repeated violation, the applicable fine is doubled, while violations committed within protected areas may result in fourfold penalties.
Furthermore, a company operating without a legally required waste management plan may be subject to an additional fine of GEL 5,000.
Beyond direct financial consequences, failure to comply with environmental requirements may create significant reputational risks. This is particularly relevant for companies cooperating with international partners, financial institutions, donor organisations, and other stakeholders that incorporate environmental performance and ESG-related criteria into their procurement, financing, and partnership decisions.
Strategic Priorities
Georgia’s National Waste Management Strategy 2016–2030 and the National Waste Management Action Plan 2022–2026 identify a number of strategic measures aimed at improving the management of construction and demolition waste.
The thirteenth strategic objective provides, among other measures, for the development of technical guidance for the collection and treatment of construction waste, capacity-building for municipalities and private-sector stakeholders, the introduction of financial and economic incentives, and the gradual implementation of European standards. The development of requirements governing the use of recycled materials in concrete production is also envisaged, representing an important step towards establishing a viable recycling industry and promoting circular-economy principles within the construction sector.
Although a specific recycling target for construction and demolition waste has not yet been established, broader national objectives provide for municipal waste collection coverage to reach 95% and for 50% of paper, glass, and plastic waste to be recycled by 2026. Waste management therefore represents a rapidly developing regulatory and operational field, and companies that introduce appropriate systems at an early stage may gain a significant competitive advantage.
Importantly, the Waste Management Code establishes a five-level waste management hierarchy: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other forms of recovery, and disposal. This approach is aligned with the principles of the EU Waste Framework Directive and provides the conceptual basis for the progressive development of waste management practices within Georgia’s construction sector.
What Can Be Done Today in the Area of Construction Waste Management?
Proper planning of the process is not merely a legal requirement. Above all, effective waste management is directly linked to issues such as the assessment of environmental risks and the reduction of environmental damage. Accurate classification of materials, separation of hazardous substances, preparation of documentation, record-keeping, and cooperation with registered waste carriers effectively protect companies from sanctions. Moreover, all of these measures contribute to the implementation of environmental standards within businesses. The sooner a company begins to organise and regulate these processes, the lower the burden of subsequent adaptation will be when environmental regulations become even stricter.
Taking all of the above into consideration, adapting to legislative requirements is a fairly labour-intensive process and requires the involvement of professionals. The consulting company EFS provides businesses with comprehensive support in preparing waste management plans and ensuring compliance with regulations, helping them avoid unforeseen sanctions. More detailed information about us, including the qualifications of the team and its working approaches, is available on the website. This will help interested parties gain a better understanding of the specifics of the process.
