For Cape Verde's Ministry of Infrastructure and with financing from the EU's ninth European Development Fund (EDF), STELLA designed with Hydea a system of integrated solid waste management for the six municipalities of the Island of Santiago in Cape Verde. STELLA assessed the quantities of waste generated on the island and the equipment and infrastructure currently used to manage the waste. After identifying the current and future needs of the municipalities, STELLA proposed the creation of an inter-municipal autonomous structure that would collect and treat the waste generated by the six municipalities. This new structure will be in charge of managing three new controlled landfills and over 20 rubbish disposal trucks. STELLA proposed various options to finance the new structure and ensure full-cost recovery (tax on imported packaging and tariffs paid by shops and residents). STELLA also recommended the launch of a public awareness campaign to encourage residents to dispose of their rubbish in the proper containers. Finally, STELLA recommended a new system to safely dispose of medical waste and to study the feasibility of segregating and recycling paper, glass, plastic, and aluminium.

For the United Nations Development Programme and the China International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges, STELLA has supported the Government of China in its ongoing institutional reform to promote greater efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) services. The project assisted two pilot cities --Mianyang (600,000 people) in the Sichuan Province and Zhang Zhou (300,000 people) in the Fujian Province-- in transitioning toward a market-oriented management of MSW. STELLA helped the two pilot cities to identify options for MSW Management and develop a comprehensive set of affordable tariffs to ensure full cost recovery and therefore financial sustainability of operations. In particular, STELLA advised on the financial and institutional arrangements (BOOT, BOO, joint venture) that the two cities will establish with the private sector to provide waste management services and to procure and build Zhang Zhou's new waste management facility. STELLA has also designed and implemented a double awareness campaign. The first part of the campaign was to inform the population of the new tariffs while highlighting the benefits of the proposed reforms. The second part measured the reaction of the population to these new tariffs and to the improved MSW management. Finally, STELLA was also in charge of controlling and supervising Mianyang's new waste management facility (landfill, incinerator, and composting facility).

For Mianyang's Environmental Sanitation Bureau (ESB), STELLA conducted a diagnostic of the commercial use of biogas recovered from its landfill. The diagnostic had three objectives: (1) Evaluate the commercial feasibility of recovering biogas from the Mianyang landfill; (2) Improve air quality in Mianyang and China; and (3) Reduce the cost of waste management in Mianyang and China. STELLA characterised the baseline quantity and composition of gas generated by Mianyang landfill, developed options for utilisation and purification, and conducted cost benefit and recovery analyses. STELLA compared different reuse options for the biogas recovered, such as flaring, fuel for vehicles, waste incineration, and electricity production. According to the financial model developed by the team, converting the gas to electricity provides the highest Net Present Value. STELLA then conducted a preliminary environmental assessment of the project, prepared the conceptual design of collection, recovery, and combustion systems, identified data to be collected, and described the quality control and assurance procedures that will be undertaken to monitor the reduction of GHG emissions. The project team developed an appropriate transaction structure (e.g., BOO, BOT) and a financing strategy, and trained ESB staff on biogas collection and reuse. STELLA also organised two information and dissemination conferences with media involvement in Mianyang and Beijing to present the final outcomes of the study to other cities in China with similar needs.

For Pingzheng Environmental Engineering Co., STELLA prepared a Project Idea Note (PIN) that was submitted to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the potential buyer of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). STELLA also prepared a Project Design Document (PDD) to register the project of landfill gas recovery in Mianyang and Guang Yuan as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the Kyoto Protocol. The project located in two cities located north of Chengdu in the Sichuan Province aimed at collecting and flaring or capturing the landfill gas to produce energy (electricity and heat), therefore reducing methane emissions from the two cities' landfills. Overall, the project planned to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 822,591 tonnes of CO2eq for the period 2006-2012. STELLA prepared the different parts of the PDD, including a description of the project activities and their duration, the baseline and monitoring methodologies, the estimation of GHG emissions by sources, the potential environmental impacts, and stakeholders' comments. First, STELLA described the different reuse options for the biogas recovered, such as flaring, fuel for vehicles, waste incineration, and electricity production and conducted economic and financial analyses. According to the financial model developed by the project team, converting the gas to electricity provides the highest Net Present Value. STELLA then prepared the conceptual design of collection, recovery, and combustion systems, identified data to be collected, and described the quality control and assurance procedures that will be undertaken to monitor the reduction of GHG emissions. STELLA also carried out a preliminary environmental assessment of the proposed CDM project and identified relevant local stakeholders (mainly neighbours of the landfills) to seek their views on the project and take into account their comments during the preparation of the PDD.

As a candidate for EU membership, Cyprus had to transpose the EU environmental acquis into its national legislation. This had a major impact on solid waste management practices for the municipalities of Cyprus. With funding from the European Commission (SMAP Programme), STELLA has conducted a project to identify and evaluate options for composting and for segregated collection in the Greater Limassol Area (GLA). To identify and evaluate these options, the project reviewed composting and segregated collection in Europe. It also collected data on solid waste generated by the Greater Limassol Area (in particular, hotels and restaurants) and on the markets for recycled materials (e.g., glass, paper and cardboard, plastics, metals, and compost) in Cyprus and in other countries. STELLA assisted the local pilot-recycling manager in designing the pilot project and the local public awareness specialist in designing awareness activities. STELLA provided the Team Leader for this project and prepared two sectoral reports. Finally, the project included the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the design of a composting plant, and provided an overview of the tools used by European municipalities to encourage segregated collection.

For Slovenia's Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, STELLA developed a plan for implementing EU Directive 94/62 on packaging and packaging waste. STELLA assessed the quantities of packaging waste generated in Slovenia and the quantities of packaging waste currently recycled and recovered. STELLA then projected future packaging waste management practices in Slovenia and assessed Slovenia's legal and institutional backgrounds. Finally, STELLA reviewed the implementation of Directive 94/62 in four Member States: Austria, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. STELLA proposed institutional arrangements to achieve recycling and recovery targets specified in the Directive. In particular, STELLA proposed that the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning be responsible for monitoring and coordination. STELLA also proposed that a non-profit organisation be in charge of collecting fees from packaging producers and providing municipalities with these fees to help them segregate packaging waste. STELLA was responsible for estimating the costs of implementation.

For the Managing Authority (MA) of the Sectoral Operational Programme (SOP) for the Environment under Romania's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD), STELLA assessed the financial and technical soundness of waste and water infrastructure projects to be co-financed by the Cohesion and Structural Funds and in compliance with the EU environmental directives. One of the issues studied was the impact of the definition of agglomeration under the wastewater treatment directive (91/271/CEE). The project strengthened MA's institutional capacity to perform a sound overall programming and monitoring of EU co-financed projects in Romania and to use efficiently and effectively the funds made available. Through on-the-job co-operation, elaboration of methodologies and staff training, this project reinforced the capacity of MA staff to prepare sound project plans, guide municipalities on the preparation of project proposals, appraise and prioritise project proposals, evaluate project applications and tender documents, manage efficiently the process of evaluation, and monitor the implementation of approved projects. STELLA revised waste and water infrastructure projects' documents such as master plans, feasibility studies, EIA and cost-benefit and sensitivity analyses, and corrected and improved the applications. We also reviewed and edited 11 Cohesion and Structural Fund applications for water and waste projects and revised tender documents according to FIDIC's yellow and red books. At the end of our project, DG Regio had approved almost 1 billion euros worth of water projects.

STELLA assisted the regional and national environmental authorities - Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Housing (MDPWH) and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD) - with the proper and timely implementation of an environmental infrastructure grant scheme for local authorities. The objective of this project was to improve environmental protection at the local and regional levels through supporting investments for the public sector and strengthening the institutional capacity to manage grant schemes and future structural funds. STELLA increased the number of local authorities aware of the opportunities offered by the grant scheme for financing small environmental infrastructure projects. We also increased the number of bankable environmental infrastructure projects proposed to ensure a complete absorption of the EC funds available. Furthermore, we trained members of the Regional Evaluation Committees for evaluating and selecting projects; we trained staff from MDPWH, MESD, Regional Environmental Protection Agencies (REPAs), Local Environmental Protection Agencies (LEPAs), and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in monitoring the grants. We also trained the beneficiaries of the investment grant schemes in all aspects required for the sound implementation of the grant contracts, including secondary procurement and monitoring. STELLA also assisted local authorities in preparing tender documents for environmental infrastructure projects, such as master plans, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments and economic and financial analysis. Through the raised awareness of the relevant regional and local authorities, this project has supported the implementation of the environmental infrastructure investment grant scheme for the public sector at the regional and local levels.

STELLA provided the team leader for this project investigating the strengths and weaknesses of the waste utilities in Pristina, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Prizren, and Peja regions. The team focussed on two main areas essential for an effective waste management in Kosovo: (1) organisational and operational support; and (2) financial management support. STELLA staff (i) assessed the organisational, operational, and financial management of waste utilities and recommended administrative/institutional changes and financial measures to improve services; (ii) enhanced "customer contracts" and compliance with the rules of the Water and Waste Regulatory Office (WWRO) while including women and minorities without discrimination; (iii) improved the procedures to maintain infrastructure; (iv) assessed, improved, and extended the collection routes, including in rural areas; (v) improved the maintenance of computer systems and staff training; (vi) established financial control mechanisms; (vii) assessed and improved billing; and (viii) prepared a development plan.

STELLA staff supported the Government of Fiji in improving Fiji's solid waste management (SWM). STELLA assisted the Department of Energy (DOE) in mitigating the environmental impact of the closure of the Lami Dump and in managing the Naboro landfill. We supervised the construction of a new cell of the Naboro landfill and assisted DOE in preparing a new concession contract for operating the Naboro landfill. We also executed detailed/final design and prepared tender documents for rehabilitating the Lami dump, and conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment of the rehabilitation of the Lami Dump. We provided DOE with institutional strengthening, capacity building, and training in SWM and prepared and implemented public information campaigns. Finally, we studied the feasibility of a transfer station in the Suva area.

For the World Bank, STELLA staff reviewed a report characterising hazardous waste management practices in Tunisia and assessing the country's needs for waste management facilities. The report presents estimates of hazardous waste quantities generated in Tunisia by waste type, describes current waste management practices, and identifies existing waste management laws and regulations. Building on the pollution prevention hierarchy (from source reduction to disposal), the report develops short- and long-term waste management scenarios. The report recommends building pre-treatment and treatment facilities as well as controlled landfills in three regions. STELLA staff discussed the report's findings with the World Bank, including alternatives for implementing the report's recommendations.

STELLA staff assessed whether the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) should provide funding for the Rio de Janeiro Sludge Treatment Feasibility Study and the Suape Industrial Port Complex in Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro Water and Sewage Company (CEDAE) is a state-run company in charge of water supply and wastewater treatment within the State of Rio de Janeiro. CEDAE must find a way to handle the sludge resulting from wastewater treatment and is interested in giving a concession to a private firm for sludge treatment. STELLA staff recommended that USTDA fund $300,000 for a Rio Sludge Management Feasibility Study, subject to CEDAE's agreement that any sludge management projects will be developed and operated as concessions. The Suape Industrial Port Complex is in a large industrial area in the south of Recife in the State of Pernambuco. According to the feasibility study conducted by the Federal University of Pernambuco, at least two dozens of industrial units of the industrial complex generate 23 tonnes of hazardous waste per day, about 7,000 tonnes per year. Suape would like an external company to manage its hazardous waste, as is currently the case for electricity, water, and other services. The company selected to manage hazardous waste could also manage solid waste generated by the city of Recife. STELLA staff recommended that USTDA fund $25,000 for a pre-feasibility study to obtain agreements from various multinational companies ready to hire this company to manage their hazardous waste.

STELLA staff managed risks assessments of five US medical waste incinerators (Massachusetts General Hospital, Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia, University of Michigan, Stony Brook Medical Centre, and Saint Joseph Hospital in New York). To evaluate the highest concentrations of pollutants, STELLA staff estimated emissions of suspended particulate matter, SO2, CO, NOX, HCl, heavy metals, and dioxins, and applied the ISCLT, ISCST, and PTPLU air dispersion models. Using dose-response relationships, STELLA staff evaluated the risks resulting from these concentrations (to the Most Exposed Individual and to the population living next to the incinerator).

For the US Trade and Development Agency, STELLA staff conducted a desk study to evaluate a proposal by Kiber Environmental for a feasibility study of a facility that would process oil sludge waste from vessels in the Port of Limon and Moin. The facility would recycle the sludge by using two new technologies (DCR asphalt technology and Cement-Lock) to make asphalt and concrete. STELLA staff reviewed the technical and financial proposal, contacted key players in the project and conducted interviews on the technology and the current economic and environmental situation in Costa Rica. STELLA staff concluded that, prior to a feasibility study, a market assessment of the availability of sludge waste, tipping fees, and actual demand for the products generated by the facility needed to be undertaken.

For the Singapore-based Regional Institute of Environmental Technology, STELLA staff assessed the demand for environmental infrastructure projects in 24 medium-sized urban centres (population between 90,000 and 350,000) in Vietnam. STELLA staff evaluated the development of private environmental infrastructure projects and studied ways to encourage foreign direct investment (Build Operate Transfer (BOT)) in urban and industrial wastewater and waste management systems. In particular, STELLA staff emphasised locally adapted waste recycling options of marketable products. STELLA staff also conducted a critical analysis of the type and level of development assistance that these centres had already been getting from bilateral and multilateral donors as well as from non-government organisations. Based on this assessment, STELLA staff developed a prioritised list of possible projects (including small in-the-field pilot projects with local population participation) and proposed an action plan to develop the most promising projects.

For the US Trade and Development Agency, STELLA staff prepared the terms of reference for a Feasibility Study (FS) on hazardous waste management in Malaysia. The FS evaluated whether Kualiti Alam (KA), the 15-year hazardous waste management concessionaire selected by the Malaysian government, could use the plasma technology in their Waste Management Centre in Bukit Nanas. Plasma arc torches use electricity to generate extremely high temperatures (from 5,000 to 14,000 degrees Celsius) that disassociate organics into gases and melt inorganics into lava. During its mission in Malaysia, STELLA staff met with KA's executives who expressed strong interest in plasma and requested TDA's assistance. KA's Waste Management Centre in Bukit Nanas currently includes a hazardous waste storage facility and a hazardous waste landfill. A plasma plant would complement the upcoming 50,000 tons per year incinerator and would handle ash from the incinerator and wastes that cannot be incinerated. To prepare the terms of reference, STELLA staff reviewed the quantities and types of hazardous wastes generated in Malaysia and assessed current waste management practices. STELLA staff also estimated the capital and operation and maintenance costs of KA's proposed 80,000 tons per year Plasma Pyrolysis and Vitrification Plant. STELLA staff recommended that TDA finance a FS to assess the commercial viability of the plasma technology for hazardous waste treatment. TDA signed a $300,000 grant agreement with KA. A consortium of four US companies (Global Plasma System, Westinghouse, SAIC, and Ernst and Young) conducted the FS (under a cost-sharing arrangement) that resulted in a partnership between Global Plasma System and KA.

STELLA staff has led the organisational development and capacity-building efforts in support of a World Bank project to implement regional Solid Waste Management (SWM) collection and disposal services in the districts of Jenin and Al-Khalil (Hebron). STELLA staff assessed organisational development and capacity building needs of local governments and of the planned regional SWM councils in each district. We surveyed local governments and formulated short- and long-term recommendations to build up the capabilities of local governments and each SWM Council. We identified staffing needs, job profiles, and basic functions of the key professional staff of each SWM Council and helped the Jenin Council recruit staff. We also provided technical assistance and training to Council Board members, professional staff of the Council's Executive Unit, mayors and village council presidents, and municipal professionals. Training areas included understanding the roles and responsibilities of the SWM Council and local governments, conducting targeted public awareness campaigns, organising primary and secondary solid waste collection services, and assessing privatisation options and cost recovery issues. STELLA staff also prepared manuals and procedural guidelines on each of those topics.