​The launching ceremony of the National (Mongolia) and City (Ulaanbaatar) Waste Improvement Strategies and Action Plans was formally and successfully held on 20 July 2017 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. About 50 participants from several line ministries, NGOs (recycling associations), academia, and media participated in the launching event which was organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, UN Environment-International Environmental Technology Centre (UNE IETC), and the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP). The event was graced by Honourable Ms. D. Oyunkhorol, Minister of Environment and Tourism and Member of Parliament of the Government of Mongolia. The National and City Waste Management Improvement Strategy documents were part of the achievements of the recently approved Waste Management Law 2017. The Minister and the UNEP IETC representative commended RRC.AP for its valuable technical insights and support in the development of the strategy documents, specially on the significant milestones.

Following the launching event of the strategy documents, an Inauguration Ceremony of the Pilot Demonstration ‘on-site green sanitation facility’ project was held on 21 July 2017 at Gorkhi Terelj National Park in Mongolia. The Minister of Environment and Tourism inaugurated the pilot project, and spearheaded the ribbon cutting ceremony of the on-site sanitation facility. The pilot on-site green sanitation facility is equipped with an on-site wastewater treatment plant, where treated water is being reused for domestic purposes. The facility also uses renewable energy (solar panel) and energy-efficient lighting, and is equipped with three waste segregation bins promoting 3Rs. Awareness-raising materials were installed at the facility to promote green tourism and clean environment of the national park. The Minister greatly encouraged the business entities operating at the national park to replicate the on-site sanitation facility to improve the overall sanitation of the area. Mr. Guilberto Borongan and Mr. Sanduijav Bayasgalan participated the launching and inauguration events on behalf of RRC.AP.