Priority projects

HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING IN RUSSIA

02.02.2019

The average Russian family, consisting of 4 people, annually throws out more than a hundred kilograms of all kinds of plastic, about the same amount of waste paper and an average of 1,000 bottles of glass. Also, according to information from the largest participant within the MSW market, Rostec State Corporation, it has become known that over 31 billion tons of waste have accumulated on the territory of our country, the amount of which is not subjected to waste disposal, the number of which increases every year by 60 million tons due to population growth and improved life quality.

HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING IN RUSSIA

The situation with domestic waste in the country becomes more frightening every day, because officially only about 10 thousand hectares of land are allocated for landfills every year. At the same time only 1/5 of this garbage is neutralized and disposed of. Stored in dumps, waste heaps, illegal dumps, it becomes a source of strong pollution of the atmospheric air, water bodies, soil and biologic environment, creating a serious epidemiological and toxicological hazard.

This is a real threat to the health and even people’s lives, with which something must be done immediately! The first step is to minimize the amount of household waste. As a solution to this problem is proposed waste recycling and the production of recyclables, which are suitable for further industrial use. For example, compost can be made from food waste for plant fertilization. Paper products can be sent to waste paper, which will reduce the number of cut trees. Recycled paper can be turned into insulating material for use in the house construction.

HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING IN RUSSIA

With such a quantity of garbage that has already accumulated over a long time and is still accumulating, we simply cannot cope without the construction of a full-cycle waste recycling plants. At the same time, the utilization of household waste by the method of incineration does not help to solve such a problem, but on the contrary will only aggravate it. The smoke released during combustion contains the most dangerous poisons: nitrogen oxides, phenols, toxic hydrocarbons, carcinogenic dioxins, lead compounds, mercury and other heavy metals. All these substances, getting into the atmosphere, have a detrimental effect not only on people, but also on the whole natural environment.

To save the environment, it is necessary to solve the problem of disposal of solid waste at the state level. In this case, it is not only about the adoption of relevant laws, as they are ineffective if they are not respected by everyone. Every conscious citizen who is concerned not only about his own well-being, but also future generations, should be interested in caring for the environment. Only an effective strategy in control of the government, in combination with the active participation of the population and of each citizen in particular, will help deal with this task.

The problem of environmental pollution is a common cause, to which it is necessary to involve the younger generation, not only as assistants, but also as direct participants – full-fledged strategic partners. In order to do this, the kindergartens, schools and universities should hold a variety of thematic activities, include relevant disciplines in the curriculum, and involve volunteers in participating in youth initiatives. The modern way to look at this problem is to educate as many young environmental specialists as possible.

It is necessary to conduct educational work at all levels: to inform the population about the state of the environment and to form a new way of thinking. Everything is not lost yet, but we must act now. Every adult and child can learn to sort the garbage, and then take it to special receptacles. After all, it is much easier to control what goes to the landfill than what goes from the landfill to the environment.