[October Free Report] Waste management in Russia: the right strategiesby Valentina Urbasova | 25-10-2023 07:50 |
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Waste management is a set of activities aimed at minimizing waste generation, collection, transportation, treatment, recycling and disposal. In Russia, this area is still under development, and there are a number of problems associated with inefficient waste management. Problem 1: low recycling rate According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, in 2022, about 70 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) were generated in Russia. Of these, only 5-7% were recycled, the rest were landfilled. This is one of the lowest rates in the world. Problem 2: excessive use of plastic Russia is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of plastic. In 2022, the country produced about 3 million tons of plastic, of which about 2 million tons were used disposable. This leads to the formation of a large amount of plastic waste that is not recyclable and pollutes the environment. Problem 3: non-compliance with waste disposal rules In Russia, non-compliance with waste disposal rules is a common problem. Many citizens do not sort their waste, throwing it on landfills and in unauthorized places. This leads to soil, water and air pollution. The right waste management strategies To address these problems, it is necessary to promote the right waste management strategies. These include: Increased recycling rate To increase the recycling rate, it is necessary to create conditions for collection and sorting of waste. For this, it is necessary to install containers for separate waste collection in residential buildings, public places and enterprises. It is also necessary to develop a waste recycling system, including the construction of new recycling facilities. Reduced use of plastic To reduce the use of plastic, it is necessary to introduce alternative materials and technologies. For example, paper bags can be used instead of plastic, glass bottles instead of plastic, etc. It is also necessary to raise awareness of the public about the harm of plastic to the environment. Encouragement of responsible waste disposal To encourage responsible waste disposal, it is necessary to carry out educational work among the population. It is necessary to explain that waste that is not properly disposed of pollutes the environment and can harm human health. Recommendations To promote the right waste management strategies in Russia, the following recommendations can be made: • Develop and implement a single waste management system at the federal level. This will ensure the coordination of actions of government agencies and businesses in the waste management sector. • Increase funding for waste recycling and disposal programs. This will help to develop waste collection and sorting infrastructure, as well as build new recycling facilities. • Raise awareness of the public about waste management issues. This will help to create a responsible attitude to the environment among the population. In addition to the measures listed above, the following options can also be considered to improve the situation with waste management in Russia: • Introduction of economic incentives for waste recycling. For example, discounts on utility bills can be provided for residents who sort their waste. • Development of the secondary resources market. This will help to increase the profitability of waste recycling and attract investment in this area. • Toughening of control over compliance with waste disposal rules. This will help to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills and unauthorized places. Conclusion Waste management is an important task for ensuring environmental safety in Russia. The promotion of the right waste management strategies will help to reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment and human health. Sources: https://www.mnr.gov.ru/opendata/ https://ecologyofrussia.ru/ |
