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"The issue of landfills is one of the global problems facing us," Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan said at the parliament on Thursday, responding to a question of MP Srbuhi Grigoryan from My Step faction.

The lawmaker stated there are landfills in Armenia which are located on historical and cultural monuments, for example, the Aghitu landfill, beneath which there is a mausoleum field of great value.

She asked the minister whether work is being carried out to close such landfills and, if so, at what stage it is now.

According to Papikyan, not only the landfills, but also many parts of the country which should be free of garbage have become dumpsites.

According to Papikyan, there are numerous causes of the problem, saying it’s also a matter of citizens’ conscientious behavior.

“However, the government is now considering several programs. At the moment, the economic bloc is discussing the issue of developing an event for garbage collection and landfill conservation, which will allow our unemployed citizens to get paid for work and clean up garbage at the same time in an effort to close landfills and free tourist attractions, settlements and Lake Sevan shores from wastes,” the minister said.

In response to a question about garbage recycling, Papikyan informed that at the moment a landfill is being constructed in Kotayk and Gegharkunik Provinces, which can concentrate the garbage of the provinces for about 20 years.

"In the meantime, negotiations are underway for recycling, although we do not have a final concept of what kind of recycling is more applicable for us, because there are many precedents in the world, while those wishing to deal with waste recycling in Armenia offer a method which is not acceptable to us. Since there is a problem of environmental pollution, we have not reached a final decision yet,” the minister added.