MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) - Renewable and secondary resources are literally as a treasure trove for Belarus, yet the sector gets little attention in the country, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a government meeting to discuss waste management and use of secondary material resources on 20 May, BelTA has learned.
“Probably, this topic is a litmus test of work for every government. We do not have oil or gas - primary fossils, as you call them. Yet, renewable and secondary resources are as a treasure trove which is literally under our feet. But we pay very little attention to it,” the head of state said. “What I have just said applies not only to Belarus. I often cite the example of Switzerland. It recycles almost everything. Meanwhile, we get together and keep talking each other into something.”
The head of state emphasized that this is a reserve for economic growth. Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that the topic had been discussed in the same composition some 11 years ago, and since then many programs and measures have been adopted, budget resources have been invested.
“How far have we come in this regard? Is there any outcome from our
‘breakthrough’ efforts? Have Belarusians felt any changes, at least in
their behavior in sorting household waste or using paper packaging?” the
president asked.
He urged to comprehensively analyze the work of the government and executive committees in the sector: “First of all, I would like to hear from you what system of work we have here. The system! Waste of various kinds, garbage, as we call it, who deals with this matter, what is done with this waste, including its sorting, delivery to industrial enterprises. How do we use it? What is the percentage?”
The head of state emphasized that this is a reserve for economic growth. Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that the topic had been discussed in the same composition some 11 years ago, and since then many programs and measures have been adopted, budget resources have been invested.
He urged to comprehensively analyze the work of the government and executive committees in the sector: “First of all, I would like to hear from you what system of work we have here. The system! Waste of various kinds, garbage, as we call it, who deals with this matter, what is done with this waste, including its sorting, delivery to industrial enterprises. How do we use it? What is the percentage?”
Aleksandr
Lukashenko also asked the speakers to provide clearly answers to all
the questions, and report on the further strategy to manage all kinds of
waste; on the fulfillment of instructions to provide the glass industry
with domestic raw materials; on the readiness to ensure ideal order in
the country in the Year of Improvement.
On poor resource recovery work and generation of imports
“Why are we doing little in material recovery, thus generating imports? In 2024 we imported 22,000 tonnes of waste paper, 2,000 tonnes of glass and plastic waste each. These are millions of dollars!” the head of state stressed.
On preventive measures and a circular economy
Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned two approaches to waste management. One is to “heroically fight” waste by building new landfills and sorting lines. The second one is to work proactively, i.e. prevent waste generation at all stages.
In this regard, the president asked for a report on how the circular economy works.
“Although, as I am informed by the State Control Committee and other agencies, the country has not yet built a transparent system to monitor the movement of waste from its generation to its use or disposal. Millions of tonnes of valuable raw materials are buried in the industry, but few are dealing with the problem,” the head of state said.
According to him, issues related to container waste collection have not been addressed in full, yet.
“Why are we doing little in material recovery, thus generating imports? In 2024 we imported 22,000 tonnes of waste paper, 2,000 tonnes of glass and plastic waste each. These are millions of dollars!” the head of state stressed.
On preventive measures and a circular economy
Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned two approaches to waste management. One is to “heroically fight” waste by building new landfills and sorting lines. The second one is to work proactively, i.e. prevent waste generation at all stages.
In this regard, the president asked for a report on how the circular economy works.
“Although, as I am informed by the State Control Committee and other agencies, the country has not yet built a transparent system to monitor the movement of waste from its generation to its use or disposal. Millions of tonnes of valuable raw materials are buried in the industry, but few are dealing with the problem,” the head of state said.
According to him, issues related to container waste collection have not been addressed in full, yet.
On the work of the secondary material resources operator
Aleksandr Lukashenko urged to assess the work of the secondary material resources operator. “We have set up a corresponding structure. There are people responsible for its operation. What has been done over the time? We set up this structure, in fact, as the main supervisor of the sector on behalf of the government. Are the financial resources (Br1.3 billion over 10 years) used rationally? How well-founded are the chosen areas of investment, what is the return on them keeping in mind the growing volumes of waste collection?” the head of state outlined the main questions.
He also asked about the reasons for delays in commissioning of facilities, and why the country imports relatively simple equipment (conveyors and the like), which it is able to produce itself.
On a deposit return systemAleksandr Lukashenko urged to assess the work of the secondary material resources operator. “We have set up a corresponding structure. There are people responsible for its operation. What has been done over the time? We set up this structure, in fact, as the main supervisor of the sector on behalf of the government. Are the financial resources (Br1.3 billion over 10 years) used rationally? How well-founded are the chosen areas of investment, what is the return on them keeping in mind the growing volumes of waste collection?” the head of state outlined the main questions.
He also asked about the reasons for delays in commissioning of facilities, and why the country imports relatively simple equipment (conveyors and the like), which it is able to produce itself.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, in 2019 the government failed to justify the need to develop a glass and plastic deposit return system in cooperation with a private investor. “What about the pilot projects that were announced back then? Maybe it is time we should return to this topic, and consider it in the format of cooperation between Belresursy Holding Company and Belarusian Glass Company,” he said.
On RDF production
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that for almost 10 years there has been a lot of talk and little action in the production of so-called RDF (refuse-derived fuel) - pellets made from combustible waste.
“Is its production profitable? Is it in demand among cement plants and enterprises affiliated with the Energy Ministry? Are there technical possibilities of its use and is it economically viable in comparison with gas and pellets? Does such fuel meet environmental standards and how will we dispose of the ash?” the head of state asked.
On environmental standards and requirements
“The population and organizations have a lot of questions about environmental standards and requirements. Sometimes they [standards and requirements] are illogical and overly rigid,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Why does an old farm, for example, not pose an environmental threat, but when it is demolished, it becomes quite problematic to bury the waste or use these materials to make a rural road?” he said.
The president also asked the government about possible penalties for objective violations of the rules of landscaping and order on the land. “For people, such violations are, for example, unmowed lawns, fallen fences, garbage on the plot grounds and so on,” the president said.
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