Armenia is a travel gem with its rich history and gorgeous nature. To make your travel more sustainable don’t forget to read this recycling guide before your trip.

Armenia is implementing major waste-management reforms during the last few years. The current recycling rate is unknown (data on the recycling of household waste is not collected).

There is no specific fine for those who fail to sort waste into different fractions in Armenia: the level of sorting in the country is still quite poor. But at the same time, intentional pollution of the environment is punishable by law by very high fines (acc. to Armenia Penal Code). The degree of the punishment is decided upon the severity of the pollution, volume, and impact on the environment. Fine applied can be in diapason from ~2 800$ to 21 000$ for civilians. The most strict fines are applied in cases of unauthorized throwing of the most “problematic” types of waste, such as oversized goods (ex.: furniture), construction garbage, and batteries. But I am sure this information will not be useful for you – as this page is for recycling nerds.

• grey for glass;
• yellow for paper;
• blue for plastic;
• metal is not collected for sorting.

During the last few years, there were many local recycling initiatives supported by funds, but unfortunately, most of them are now stopped. Project “Eco Waste (EcoAGHB)” collects plastic, polyethylene, paper, and glass: regularly organizing waste collection campaigns (recommend you to follow their Facebook page. On the campaign days, the waste can be brought to specific places in the city or it can be taken from you given prior registration and availability. Project also has an eco-shop.

No rare waste types are accepted in Armenia (at least we do not find relevant information). If you know something interesting – please share it with me on Instagram.

Primary color coding for recycling bins in Armenia, Yerevan:

This is a pilot program to install recycling bins in all administrative districts of Yerevan city – the capital. Also recycling bins you can find in such places as Yerevan Botanic Garden, Yerevan State University, and EU Embassies (Netherlands) – but please pay attention that color coding could be different.

Batteries are not recycled in Armenia and there is no trustable partner who collects these batteries for further recycling. So Eco Waste Project Team on their Facebook page (the topic was discussed here) strongly recommends switching to more durable solutions (such as rechargeable accumulators) – so do we! Reducing and refusing are always more prioritized options than recycling.

I didn’t find any sorting/recycling initiatives for e-waste in Armenia (particularly in Yerevan). If you know any please contact me on Instagram.

T-Cycle is a non-government company that organizes textile-collection days in partnership with the “Eco Waste (EcoAGHB)” recycling initiative. In order not to miss the nearest collection day follow the Facebook pages of these 2 organizations:

1) T-Cycle

2) Eco Waste (EcoAGHB)

You also can use Zara/Bershka containers in big shopping malls, such as Dalma and Yerevan (if you trust their recycling programs. At the same time, there is no well-developed infrastructure for textile collection across the country (ex.: special boxes placed in the city center).”

I didn’t find any composting initiatives for organic in Armenia (particularly in Yerevan). If you know any please contact me on Instagram.

Mixed (or non-recyclable) waste can be thrown in standard grey waste bins.