Focusing on the need for sustainable practices, this project is dedicated to creating new value chains in waste management, with a focus on promoting the benefits of recycling and environmentally friendly approaches to the management of materials and chemicals, through the inclusive participation of drivers to reduce waste storage or discharge. This project aims at Strategic Initiative 3 of the GEF SGP Program, from local to global coalitions for chemicals management and waste management, but also indirectly Strategic Initiative 4, Catalyzing sustainable urban solutions by encouraging partnerships for sustainable production and consumption, correct management of substances and reducing their impact on environmental components, communities and human health.
This project comes to meet the requirements of the new waste law no. 209/2016, which introduces the Extended Producer Responsibility (REP) instrument, being part of the circular economy approaches in the waste treatment process and focuses on materials recovery and pollution prevention. Thus, the general objective of the project is to increase the share of recycled waste by developing and implementing the model of Extended Producer Responsibility (REP) for packaging waste in the Republic of Moldova. Thus, in order to increase the share of recycled packaging waste, there is a need to lay the foundations for the operation of the extended producer responsibility principle, which consists in: creating a collective waste management system (Responsibility Transfer Organization) by concluding agreements between RTOs and packaging waste producers; creation of the information system for collecting and reporting data on packaging waste, operated by RTO; drawing up the package of legal agreements between packaging manufacturers and OTRs and between RTOs and recyclers; the development and adopting of coercive measures for packaging waste producers, which would stimulate their openness to comply with the REP principle; the permanent development of an extensive communication campaign with consumers, in order to get them to participate in the process of separate collection of packaging waste.

The project aimed to address environmental challenges in the local community and promote sustainable development. It involved active participation and engagement of community members, with a specific focus on women, youth, and children. The project implemented various activities, including capacity-building sessions, awareness campaigns, and collaborative decision-making processes.

To tackle the identified issues, the project team employed a multi-faceted approach. They facilitated workshops and training sessions to enhance local capacity and knowledge on environmental issues. Additionally, they fostered gender equality and empowered women by providing them with opportunities to participate in decision-making processes and leadership roles.

The project yielded significant results, benefiting various stakeholders. The involvement of youth and children fostered their environmental awareness and leadership skills, empowering them to become agents of change within their community. Moreover, the project successfully raised public awareness about local and global environmental issues, promoting a sense of responsibility and encouraging sustainable practices.
Throughout the project implementation, several valuable lessons were learned. The active engagement of the community and their sense of ownership over the project proved vital for success. However, securing additional funding and ensuring effective coordination among stakeholders presented challenges. To address these issues, regular monitoring and evaluation sessions were conducted, allowing for adaptive management and continuous improvement.
In conclusion, the project effectively addressed local environmental challenges through community engagement, gender empowerment, and youth involvement. The achieved outcomes demonstrated the importance of participatory approaches and the need for sustained coordination and resource mobilization. The lessons learned from this project provide valuable insights for future initiatives aiming to promote sustainability and community development.