The Yerevan Municipality has strong legal grounds to cancel its contract concluded with Sanitek Armenia, a branch of Sanitek International Group – a multinational waste management company headquartered in Lebanon, if the latter continues to provide poor garbage disposal services in capital Yerevan, a consumer rights activist says. 

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Babken Pipoyan, Chairman of the Informed and Protected Consumer NGO, stressed the city hall only needs to carry out consistent work by documenting the improper waste removal cases in the capital and unilaterally terminate the contract after the deadlines set for eliminating the shortcomings expire. 

“I want to inform the mayor that if he really wants to terminate the contract, he has all the possibilities. He can give [Sanitek] ten days and 15 employees, providing his personal guarantees for dissolution of the contract with Sanitek,” Pipoyan said. “If the company cannot work, let it pick up its stuff and leave.” 

He added the funds allocated to the waste management company should be given to the community.

As part of the contract, the Yerevan Municipality has fined Sanitek twice for failing to fully meet its obligations.