MSW Treatment, Renovation Plan, and Sustainability for Yakutia

The Government of the Arkhangelsk region has presented to the public its draft revised concept for municipal solid waste treatment. Under the revised concept, major emphasis will be placed on MSW recycling -- up to 40% of the region’s MSW are expected to be recovered and reused upon reprocessing. In addition, all 14 incinerators along with 12 out of 19 landfills existing in the region are to be put out of operation.

This 13 July, a public contest for the best renovation plan for the city of Norilsk kicked off under the auspices of the municipal authorities. According to the mayor’s office, the plan is intended to transform Norilsk, one of the world’s largest Arctic cities with a population of some 180,000 people, into a modern, comfortable and welcoming city by 2035 through a comprehensive renovation project. The latter will be co-funded by Nornickel, the city’s major employer, which has allocated more than USD 1 billion for these purposes.

In light of the environmental, social and economic challenges emerging in the High North, more and more regional governments in the Russian Arctic embrace the concept of sustainability as their priority. The Council for Wellbeing and Sustainable Development was established in the Yakut Republic by the regional governor. The body will advise the regional government on how to integrate sustainability into its practices in the context of climatic, geographic, demographic and cultural realities of Yakutia.