City Mayor Comments on 'Sanitek' Leftover Full Bins as a Disappearing Species

Yerevan's Mayor's spokesperson Hakob Karapetyan has written on his Facebook page about the importance of having a community-operated waste management and sanitation facility in Yerevan:

“For decades, the community has alienated its property and powers, transferring, selling, or gifting them to private entities—often for the personal gain of officials (remember the vast property of a once young official?). Now, the reverse process is happening. The community is reclaiming its powers and control over public services, creating a comprehensive system in urgent response to the crisis provoked by private entities, using its property and other resources.

At present, the city has 34 large garbage trucks, with another 20 smaller ones expected in the coming weeks, along with 4,400 garbage bins (2,200 of which will be in Yerevan soon) being put out for tender, including about 1,000 metal bins. Equipment necessary for sanitation and snow removal is being acquired, including multifunctional vehicles such as water trucks, snow and sand spreaders, and vacuum cleaners. Furthermore, this equipment has been acquired not through charity or international loans but by the community's own means. Except for one garbage truck, for which we thank the government of China for the gift.

As a result, the institution is being staffed with several hundred employees, providing them with decent work and stable income. The city administration is taking responsibility and creating operational systems that are already beginning to show results today and will take root for future years and administrations. It is worth capturing the full bins left by 'Sanitek' in a photo; they are a disappearing species and will soon be completely eliminated.”