Afghanistan: Plastic Recycling Best Opportunity Study

Apr 9, 2016 | Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités
View Original

The Central Highlands Rural Development Programme (CHP) has the overall objective to increase living standards and quality of life of rural mountainous populations by promoting balanced rural development and the preservation of natural resources.

One of its specific objectives is to improve energy resilience of households and their living conditions in winter while limiting the depletion of natural capital. In order to achieve this objective, GERES develops and promotes energy saving solutions through an integrated value chain, by training craftsmen on these technologies and supporting the dissemination process through financial incentives and promotional activities.

In 2012, GERES started promoting verandas in Kabul, and in the framework of the CHP programme, numerous more passive solar infrastructures are disseminated. While the building is fast and easy, plastic remains the main non-biodegradable material used. Despite several trainings involving craftsmen and verandas’ owners, plastic is often non reusable following 1 to 3 winter seasons. The renewal of this plastic represents an important cost for householders even more significant in remote and poor areas. One the other hand, the amount of plastic thrown away and not recycled is tends to become the source of important threats for the environment, health and agriculture matters.

These different aspects have been firstly studied by C. DEHAIS - R&D Manager, in summer 2015 in the document ‘Improving plastic value chain for veranda – Quality, durability, collection and treatment opportunities’ available in annex of this TOR. This document will be used as a base for the study concerned by this TOR.

2 Main purposes

The objective of this study is to deepen an initial study written by C. DEHAIS, in order to identify realistic and achievable activities that can support the project’s aim of reducing the environmental (and maybe economic) burden that plastic places on households, more specifically:

  • To research and identify existing mechanisms for plastic recycling and re-using in the region, with a focus in the Central Highlands, with potential research in other parts of country.
  • To identify potential actors likely to be involved in recycling schemes recycling organization management/leading.
  • To conduct a feasibility study of setting a local recycling process ;
  • To raise awareness about burden of plastic and alternative to throwing away in schools, at trainings, and with authorities.
3 Intended Users & Uses
  • Verandas builders (craftsmen) and users
  • Local and national stakeholders (institutions, NGOs, …)
  • Potential local recycling plant (if created)
  • CHP team: GERES and partners (SI and MADERA)
  • GERES Afghanistan
  • AFD
4 Principle & Approach

This assessment comes after an in-depth study of C. Dehais including recommendations regarding the local recycling opportunities.

The Phase 1 Assessment is a first step analyse the sector, and provide an analysis of potential recycling and waste management opportunities.

Should the Phase 1 Assessment provide positive results, a further feasibility study could be conducted.

Outside of the project, the study should provide enough analysis and assessment to provide the guidelines for the creation of a plastic recycling plant.

5 Methodology

5.1 Phase 1: Assesment

This phase will require an important field work time.

5.1.1 Central Highland actors and networks

5.1.1.1 Collection actors

Identify the different actors of plastic collection, both in Kabul province and Central Highland area.

For each actor, process, material, vehicle, facilities, number of workers, amount of plastic concerned, incomes, seasonality and networks (actor before and after) will be described.

5.1.1.2 Local and exportation treatment actors (plastic recycling, plastic production, waste treatment)

Identify the different actors of the plastic recycling, production, or treatment among Afghanistan and for exportation (Iran, Pakistan …).

For each actor, process, material, vehicle, facilities, number of workers, amount of plastic concerned, incomes, seasonality and red (actor before and after) will be described.

For each treatment or recycling process, environmental benefits or disadvantages should be described.

5.1.1.3 Estimation of waste production by areas

For each areas, estimate amount of plastic (global plastic amount and LDPE amount) collected and not collected yearly:

  • Bamyan Bazar
  • Nayak Bazar

5.1.2 Identify opportunities for plastic recycling adapted to LDPE

5.1.2.1 Collection

Set different plastic collection alternatives (including logistic and cost description) inside CHP area to propose pertinent price vs quantity collected in 2 to 4 pertinent alternatives, probably:

  • Area:

o Bamyan centre,

o Bamyan centre + Nayak centre,

o Other if relevant.

  • Modality:

o Frequency,

o Place,

o Remuneration.

5.1.2.2 Recycling process

At least 4 opportunities should be presented:

  • One Afghan recycling (by sending the plastic in an existing recycling plant in Afghanistan),
  • One Exportation for recycling in existing recycling plant in foreign country (probably Pakistan or Iran),
  • Two local recycling (Bamyan province) by the creation of a local recycling organization (for example: production of composite bricks, plastic incorporation to asphalted road building, extrusion of plastic pipes …).

The consultants will propose to GERES those different alternatives, described through:

  • Needs: Knowledges needs,Plastic needs (lower quantity limit of annual plastic collected),Raw materials needs, Technical material needs, Facilities, Labor, Etc.
  • Exits: Goods/materials/products, Waste.
  • Environmental benefits/disadvantages,
  • Constraints/limits/critical points/main challenges,

Each item should be described and cost and revenue, for adapted plastic collect scenario(s), should be clear.

5.1.2.3 Potential leaders for a local plastic recycling process

If a local plastic recycling plant is planned, the choice of local organization/leader has to be made carefully, as the success of a recycling plant depends on how well an actor is chosen.

Some potential leaders should be listed, it could be for instance:

  • Other NGO present in the area (UNEP, Help, Helvetas ...), or interested in,
  • An ‘entrepreneur’ motivated for new technologies,
  • Local government,
  • Technical university,

The consultants should also identify other aspects of existing plastic collection and recycling process that they would feel relevant or that would be required for the next steps of the study.

6 Expected schedule

Expected start date : August, 01, 2016

Expected end date : August 30, 2016

Submission of draft report : September, 15, 2016

Submission of final report : September, 30, 2016

7 Suggested planning Please consult www.geres.eu for more details
8 Roles & Responsibilities

The consultancy team is made up of two persons:

  • o 1 short term expert as the team leader
  • o 1 national assistant recruited by the current team of Component II.

The consultancy team depends on the direct line management of i) GERES country director in Afghanistan and ii) The Project Manager of the Component II of the CHP, based in Bamyan.

GERES is financially responsible of:

  • Daily fees + per diem if any required by the consultant
  • Visa (to be arranged by the consultant)
  • International transportation (to be arranged by the consultant)
  • Local transportation
  • Accommodation and cooking facilities in GERES guesthouses and sub-bases
  • Office and printing specificities

The consultant is financially responsible of:

  • Personnal insurance cost
  • Own laptop
9 Reporting Requirements

The assessment phase will be documented by:

  • An inception report handed over during the first week of the field mission
  • A report in .doc format, including an abstract of a maximum of 3 pages and technical annexes
  • A detailed roadmap for implementation of a plastic collection and recycling processes
  • A PowerPoint presentation as a debriefing base to GERES team in Bamyan and/or Kabul
  • A PowerPoint presentation to display and comment in front of the CHP stakeholders in Bamyan
10 Profile expected

Background and experience

  • Previous experience and technical knowledge in the design and analysis of waste management systems in developing countries – cold countries preferred;
  • Previous experience in the design and analysis of projects focused on a market-based approaches welcome.

Specific personal skills

  • Able to manage a team in difficult geographical conditions;
  • Comfortable and able to work in a high-risk country;
  • Autonomous, rigorous and self-learner.
11 Confidentiality rights and obligations

The ownership of the draft and final documentation belong to GERES and the funding donor exclusively. The document, or publication related to it will not be shared with anybody except GERES.

GERES is to be the main addressee of this assessment and its results might impact on both operational and technical strategies. This being said, GERES is likely to share the results of the assessment with GERES partners in Afghanistan and the CHP stakeholders in Bamyan Province.

12 Selection criteria

The proposals will be scored on a total of 100 points, following these criteria:

· 1. Technical quality of the proposal in relation to the methodology and the work plan: 70 points

· 2. Financial offer: 30 points