An investment worth €5.5 million (£4.4m) will be made for a waste management project in Armenia.

The money from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be used to extend a landfill to process waste from the Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions.

The new landfill is the first in the country that is compliant with EU regulations and will operate as a commercial unit with modern solid waste management systems.

The services will generate major environmental and social benefits for 500,000 people in the area, according to the EBRD.

The loan is complemented by a €5.5 million (£4.4m) investment provided by the European Union Neighbourhood Investment Facility (EU NIF).

Mark Davis, Head of the EBRD’s Yerevan Resident Office said: “This investment will bring substantial benefits to the regions’ residents and environment and will help to develop a wider use of recycling. We are grateful for the strong support from our donors who see modernisation and environmental protection as much as a priority as we do.”