Gegharkunik region to shut down all landfills in major environmental reform

In 2026, the main landfills in the Martuni and Vardenis municipalities of Armenia's Gegharkunik region will be closed once the waste from these two communities is systematically transferred to the Hrazdan sanitary landfill by the Kotayk and Gegharkunik Solid Waste Management Center.

Governor of Gegharkunik Province, Karen Sargsyan, told Armenpress that the closure of the landfills is among the top priorities of the regional and local authorities, and every effort will be made to ensure that the former landfills, which occupy large areas, do not cause any environmental problems.

“During 2025, the waste accumulated in the communities of Sevan, Gavar, and Chambarak has already been transferred to the Hrazdan sanitary landfill in a coordinated operation. Soon, the Martuni and Vardenis municipalities will also join this important initiative, resulting in the closure of the main landfills in these two municipalities as well. We view the closure of all landfills as part of the ‘Kotayk and Gegharkunik Solid Waste Management’ program, which we are implementing step by step in cooperation with the communities.

For the past two years, through our initiative and in collaboration with municipalities and construction companies, construction waste has also been relocated to central landfills, providing a reliable method for covering solid household waste. Municipalities will also take additional measures to ensure that all small and large landfills are fully closed, preventing any future environmental problems,” Governor Karen Sargsyan stated.