By Yuri Chernyakevich
Even the most useful items eventually become redundant, creating rubbish. As our consumption increases, so does the volume of rubbish generated. Every city is plagued by mountains of waste; it’s a global problem and Belarus is no exception. However, recent projects to recycle waste have been launched, with many city courtyards now boasting separate containers for gathering different types of rubbish: glass, paper and plastic. Some can be burnt to generate electricity while others can be recycled for reuse.
Belarus declared 2013 to be the year of economy, embracing innovative projects which save money — at an international level as well as domestic. Kobrin, in the Brest Region, has begun collecting waste under various categories, under a project funded by the EU and UNDP. Local housing and utilities services have received about a million Euros, which is no insignificant sum. Over the past two years, the money has been spent on purchasing hundreds of containers for the separate gathering of rubbish, as well as seven rubbish trucks, a container loader and bulldozer. Moreover, a sorting station has been built. The project is now bearing fruit, with some plastic, paper and glass recycled, explains Sergey Yelets, the Director of Kobrin housing and utilities services. He notes that the volume of rubbish being taken to landfill sites has fallen, reducing fuel being used by rubbish trucks and saving approximately Br70 million per year.
The sum may seem modest, but it’s just the beginning. Kobrin is only gathering about 7 percent of domestic waste for recycling but aims to increase this to 25 percent. “We’re educating urbanites and explaining the importance of separating waste, reminding everyone that it takes decades for plastic and glass to decay. Kobrin residents are welcoming and strongly supporting our initiatives,” notes Mr. Yelets.
Needless to say, such projects are vital for Belarus in today’s world. As to why the average Belarusian is yet to embrace the idea of separating their rubbish, it’s likely that most lack clear understanding of the benefits. Their ecological literacy is low and there is little information about existing programmes. These gaps should be eliminated as soon as possible.
I remember seeing a form of recycling in a supermarket in a small Polish town: near the entrance was a big cardboard box into which people could throw old batteries. Customers were using the box out of habit and understood that it could only benefit their environment. This is a recipe for survival rather than a ‘green fad’.
In fact, many European countries underwent an eco-transition years before Belarus. Of course, it took time — and information dissemination is at the heart of this change. We need to explain why it is important to collect rubbish separately and how waste can be turned into income, while showing people how they can individually make a difference. Eco-campaigns will improve Belarusian citizens’ understanding; the success of many ‘green’ projects relies on this.
Since 2011, Kobrin has been campaigning to teach residents how they can support this eco-movement: holding meetings with local housing and utility services, and organising events at schools and at trade unions. Supported by the EU and UNDP, articles have been published in local newspapers, while district and regional TV channels have broadcast programmes filmed locally. Even city posters have explained what to do.
Old and young alike in Kobrin know that plastic bottles need to be thrown in special containers rather than into any ordinary bin. As we might expect, schoolchildren are the most active when it comes to eco-implementation. Children have been taken to the sorting station to see waste recycling with their own eyes.
A similar project is underway in Mosty, in the Grodno Region, where the EU and UNDP are working with the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus to promote public awareness. The cities have been chosen as being typical for the country, so that success can be gauged fairly and used as a model for others across Belarus. The future is in our hands.
