ИСТИНА

One of the peculiarities found in the interaction of the city with its hinterland is how the system of collection, hauling, and processing Oblast’ exceeded the amount of wastes produced in the oblast’. In 2010 one of Moscow Oblast’s ecological problems was the presence of more than 50 landfills, the capacity of which was 80% exhausted, and some 1500 unsanctioned dumps. Within Old Moscow there were four garbage-incineration plants, which burned one-third of Moscow’s garbage. About 5% of the household solid wastes are recycled and the rest are buried in Moscow Oblast’. Today the situation regarding wastes in Moscow and Moscow Oblast’ is changing, but not for the better. Old Moscow alone annually produces about 25 million tonnes of wastes from production and consumption (household, industrial, construction, etc.), while the new territories account for about an additional 90,000 tonnes. Every year this figure increases by three percent. Troitskii and Novomoskovskii administrative okrugs currently are relatively minor producers of household solid waste, but in ten years they will catch up with Old Moscow’s districts. It is especially important to consider the rapid pace of residential construction in New Moscow. Moreover, now there is the question of where to take the construction waste that will be generated by the destruction of buildings in Moscow in accordance with the “renovatsiya” program, which will demolish low-quality five-story buildings. It is possible that this waste will end up in New Moscow. In July 2011 authorities in Moscow and Moscow Oblast’ signed an agreement concerning production and consumption wastes which considered setting up inter-regional complexes to recycle wastes. Since 1 January 2017 it has been illegal to bury wastes containing useful materials (plastic, glass, ferrous-metal scrap, recyclable paper). Such wastes constitute up to 60% of household solid wastes. The territorial schema for Moscow Oblast’ for 2019 suggests creating the facilities to remove useful materials from garbage. At present for practical purposes they do not exist. After annexation Moscow found that four landfills came with the new territories. Currently they are closed and undergoing reclamation. In addition, about sixty unsanctioned dumps turned up in New Moscow. There is no plan to open new landfills or other facilities for recycling in New Moscow, and so it is difficult to say how the problem of dealing with wastes will be resolved.