MINSK, 14 July (BelTA) – The recycling rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Belarus has increased threefold over the past five years, Olga Sazonova, the head of the waste management, biological and landscape diversity department at the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, told a press conference on 14 July, BelTA has learned.
“Creating an effective MSW management system is an important task. Belarus has worked on it since the decree providing for extended producer responsibility was adopted in 2012. Enterprises and importers have contributed to creating a system of municipal waste collection and recycling. Since then, we have been actively developing the system to collect not only traditional types of secondary raw materials (glass, plastic, paper), but also hazardous waste and batteries,” Olga Sazonova said.
According to her, Belarus is gradually updating the legislation, introducing new norms and requirements taking into account the law enforcement practices and international expertise. “Thanks to efforts of all stakeholders, we have achieved significant progress. For example, the recycling rate of municipal solid waste has increased more than threefold in the past five years. Our progress is great, but there is still a lot of work ahead,” Olga Sazonova stressed.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry also oversees activities in the field of waste management. Since the start of 2021, the ministry discovered more than 9,000 cases of waste disposal in unsanctioned places. It examined around 2,000 MSW disposal sites and found violations in operation of waste disposal sites and in disposal of municipal solid waste. Those responsible were brought to administrative liability.
