Separate garbage collection: when to start and how to organize at home
Since January 2019, a new system of dealing with
solid municipal waste (MSW). Among the important innovations - in all
infrastructure should appear in large cities for separate collection and
accumulation of municipal waste.
It will take more than one year to introduce a new system everywhere. Nevertheless, it seems that the whole country is slowly moving towards the environmentally friendly management of garbage. There is also more news in the info field. Among the latter, in February, agencies were instructed to develop a standard that would allow more waste to be recycled. The priority is also a separate collection of organic waste.
What do people think?
Public surveys show that people are aware of environmental responsibility. According to the NAFI analytical center, 85% of Russians are ready to carry out separate collection of household garbage, if the entire infrastructure is prepared for this. In order for the system to start functioning, there are few containers. The entire algorithm for the collection and disposal of waste, including the emergence of special equipment and the places themselves for processing various wastes, must change.
What is happening in Petersburg?
It was assumed that as early as 2019 in St. Petersburg a single regional operator for handling household waste would work. But at the end of 2018, the State Duma adopted a law that allows Petersburg to shift the start of the operator’s work by three years. During this time, the city needs to build the missing facilities for recycling and organize a full and ubiquitous separate collection. By the way, this postponement was given to two more cities - Moscow and Sevastopol.
What can you do now?
Mentally ready for the idea to sort the garbage? Start right now, not waiting for 2022. If there are no cherished tanks in your yard, you can find out where the nearest separate collection point is located at https://recyclemap.ru/ . There are marked all the points where they collect paper, glass, plastic, metal, clothing, hazardous waste, household appliances. If the idea of sorting all the garbage still seems overwhelming, start small - collect only paper and cardboard. And in order for polyethylene and plastic to accumulate less, start using a water bottle and an eco bag.
How to organize a separate collection at home?
Next we will explain how to organize a convenient sorting of garbage at home. Even if you don’t start sorting now, save yourself some text somewhere. After 3 years is useful.
1. Organize trash cans
One bin now is not enough. At least 3 containers / baskets are required.
Container 1. For plastic bags, plastic bottles and other plastic waste. To prevent bottles from taking up space, flatten them.
Container 2. For paper in all its manifestations: newspapers, magazines, cardboard wrappers from chocolate, shoe boxes, tetrapacks from juice and dairy products. Do not forget to remove plastic caps from tetrapacks and send them to container №1.
Container 3. For food waste, organics and all that can not be recycled.
There are special built-in systems for separate collection of garbage for the kitchen. But you can also collect your budget trash organizer in IKEA. Check the price on this page , there are even ventilated containers (relevant for organic).
There are 2 more types of garbage, which most likely will accumulate less often, but it is important for it to allocate space. Speech about glass (bottles, cans) and metal waste (foil, canning and aluminum cans). Collect them separately and store them where they will not disturb you - a secluded place in the kitchen, in the pantry or even on the balcony.
2. Separately collect environmentally hazardous waste.
Batteries, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent and energy saving lamps, thermometers and other mercury-containing devices (thermometers, tonometers), aerosol cans should be taken only to special collection points. Find a container closest to you or find out the schedule of eco- vehicles : ecospb.rf
3. Do it all at once.
It is important to rinse all bottles, tetrapacks, cans and packaging from leftover food and beverages before throwing it away. If you do it right away, then you don’t have to waste time on sorting.
4. Reduce volume
To ensure that the apartment does not become a landfill for storing waste materials, minimize the amount of all waste. Tetrapaku straighten, plastic bottles and aluminum cans crushed, put the packaging of different sizes into each other on the basis of matryoshka.
5. Remember this list
What is not recyclable and can be safely thrown into a common bucket:
thermal paper (checks, film for faxes, etc.);
sleeves from under toilet paper and paper towels;
disposable paper cups;
paper egg containers;
photo paper, photos;
all types of food waste;
packaging that cannot be cleaned of food waste (for example, pizza boxes with traces of fat).
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