Relocating Tbilisi’s Lilo landfill is not considered advisable at this stage, as the existing site has the potential to expand and operate for another 20 years, Mayor Kakha Kaladze said.
A study conducted by German company ICP assessed 12 potential locations and shortlisted three options: Mukhiani, Shindisi and expansion of the existing landfill. The current site was identified as the most suitable based on factors including accessibility, transport routes, terrain, zoning and future development potential.
Kaladze said building a new landfill would take approximately four years and require significant additional investment. He added that the existing site, which has operated since 2010, needs environmental infrastructure upgrades and improvements to waste management systems regardless of whether it is relocated.
One key project is a €6.5 million leachate treatment facility currently under construction, scheduled for completion in September 2027. Kaladze said contaminated liquid from the landfill currently flows directly into a channel, creating an environmental problem that the new facility is intended to address.
The mayor stressed that the decision to retain the landfill at its current location does not mean residents’ concerns will be ignored, adding that the city aims to address the environmental problems through long-term solutions rather than simply relocating them.
