One of the problems in Georgia is contamination to the environment by waste and chemical substances. This is a comprehensive problem, including contamination by household waste, disorganized landfills, as well as the issues related to hazardous and accumulated waste management.

The environment is also polluted from mining and processing waste and sludge, accumulated on the territories of former soviet enterprises. Arsenic-containing slag and ash need to be mentioned in Tsana village (Lentekhi municipality) and Uravi village (Ambrolauri municipality). (The Territory of former arsenic mining and processing).

Another key source of environment pollution is expired agricultural chemicals, namely pesticides, remaining in large numbers after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Besides, as a result of agricultural activities hazardous waste accumulates in the country (large number of pesticide-containers and expired and unfit pesticides, withdrawn from the market).

Further sorting and treatment of waste in most of the European countries is so well organized, that only a small portion of the total volume of waste goes to landfill. The rest is recyclable
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It is noteworthy that no law existed in Georgia on waste or waste management. To address the problem the law of Georgia “Waste Management Code” was adopted. This is a framework document, establishing legal basis for waste management. 

Waste Management Code provides for implementation of measures that will facilitate waste prevention and its increased re-use as well as environmentally safe treatment of waste including recycling and separation of secondary raw materials, energy recovery from waste and safe disposal of waste, and monitoring of this process.