Waste management
The public is concerned about the environmental and social consequences of existing waste management system in Russia.
So far, the country has not taken sufficient measures to implement the highest directions of state policy in the field of waste management:"maximum use of materials" and "prevention of waste generation", which are stipulated in paragraph 2, Article 3 , Federal Law No. 89 "On production and consumption waste". There are more and more points of social tension associated with plans to export waste from megacities to other regions and the spread of incineration facilities.
At the 15th conference on November 9, 2019, the Russian Social and Environmental Union adopted a Position on the municipal waste managment.
A draft law establishing a maximum recycling rate of 100% for manufacturers has been submitted to the State Duma. Representatives of public environmental organizations believe that sustainable waste management requires state support for waste prevention infrastructure and the recycling industry.
The latest waste management reform in Russia, scheduled for March 2020, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Representatives of public organizations believe: to reduce waste, systemic changes in the principles of production and consumption are required.
The “waste reform” has been a resonance topic for several months. “The reform should result not with tariff increase but a real solution to the problem of uncontrolled waste generation,” say representatives of environmental NGOs.