Waste in Russia : Garbage or Valuable Resource?

This paper, waste in Russia: trash or valuable resource, illustrates various scenarios for sector treatments of municipal solid waste. Russia annually produces 55-60 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) with an average production of 400kg of waste per person per year. It is noted that levels of education in urban and urban areas are different and this factor plays an important role in the quantity of waste in the different areas. The growth of waste is inextricably linked with an increase in the welfare of society, i. e., there is a correlation between the dynamics of GDP per capita and specific waste generation. This can lead to serious environmental consequences. More than 90 percent of Russian debris is sent to landfills and illegal dumps, and the amount of accumulated waste is growing. Owing to the deterioration of the infrastructure for the collection and disposal of MSW much waste today are buried in open landfills and landfills are not equipped with the means for special protection of soil, water and surrounding areas from pollution. In addition the MSW pollute the atmosphere, the surface layers of soil, groundwater and soil and has a negative impact on flora and fauna, impair the quality of life of the population of nearby territories. Government and the society at large are united in the opinion that the scope of the waste management system requires reforms aimed at reducing the negative environmental impacts and at improving the efficiency of resource use. Environmentally oriented goals for economic growth, preservation of favorable environment, biodiversity and natural resources are stated priorities in the Principles of State policy for environmental development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030.