Economic experience of the capital

Moscow pays special attention to advanced technologies and world experience in waste disposal and also prepares a program of domestic rubbish treatment, in order to reduce the number of underground disposals. And the main target is to make such treatment harmless for Moscowers` health.

All Moscow incinerator plants are equipped with imported gas cleaning equipment. Gas cleaning system is considered for incineration of Moscow unsorted garbage, which contains big portion of food wastes, there also can be found such toxic objects, as broken thermometers and mercury lamps. Gas cleaning equipment of such plants conforms to the same requirements used for plants` equipment in Europe, so dioxin emissions are also treated. Moscow plants are controlled by local laboratories, as well as by Mosekomonitoring, so cleaning level is equal to the European one. In 1975 one incinerator plant was enough for Moscow. It processed 75 tons of wastes a year. Since then the population of the city has noticeably increased and waste volume — only domestic — may reach 5,2 million tons a year. And total yearly amount of disposals in Moscow sometimes achieves from 26 to 27 million tons. These are the waste products of building sites, medical wastes, among which 240 thousand — industrial plants wastes. Population throws away 8,2 million tons of domestic refuse, large — 1 million tons, business corporation — 1400 tons. There is an aim to treat these volumes correctly, to make man`s life in Moscow and Moscow region safe from their influence. Moscow government has been looking for the problem’s solution for a long time already. The first program of waste treatment appeared in 1992, then it was updated in 2005.

The task of the first program was to utilize and process wastes by 2008 in such a way that 18% pass through incinerator plants, and 82% — through underground disposal on polygons. On April, 22, 2008 new objectives connected with a new wastes treatment program appeared. If in previous times 82% of wastes were not processed but left on polygons, by 2015 only 27—37% of total city rubbish amount should be left on polygons. Some types of wastes, for example, come from building sites, are already traditionally processed for further usage: they are smashed to pieces, metals are separated, and waste materials are repeatedly input into production. City governmental plans include — construction of incinerator plants, which will relieve garbage polygons.

The main aim of wastes treatment is destruction of the garbage. Representatives of High Ecological Council of Russia pointed out three main features of such work. First — wastes processing should be done as quick as possible, second — it should occupy as little area in municipal facilities as possible, third — environmental safety of such treatment should be guaranteed. In spite of the fact that in 80 countries of the world 4000 incinerator plants are working, and their work is acknowledged environmentally sound, the question regarding environmental safety of incinerator plants` work is not solved yet. Governmental authorities of the city care that citizens get reliable and detailed information about the work of wastes processing technologies.

European Council and European Parliament declared wastes incineration to be an environmentally sound method last year. Besides, experience of European megapolises speaks for complex approach to treatment: waste products are sorted, materials which can be recycled are collected and organic wastes are punched. Incineration is applied for the wastes which are not subjected for repulping. Only residues are transported to polygons — for example, ashes, — which can’t be processed anyhow.

So within the next few years 25—30 incinerator plants are to be constructed in Europe in those counties where this branch is not developed yet. For instance, in Spain and Great Britain, South Italy and also in Germany.

In particular, in Italy, where wastes disposal is a burning issue, just trash incineration can solve it most effectively. Thus, incineration plant in Milan combines wastes burning with energy generation. The plant provides considerablepart of city heating. However population firstly felt prejudiced concerning the safety of the method: during a year there were nearly 200 protests in Italy, 23% of them — against wastes incinerator plants, 11% — against polygons. At the moment there are 50 large incinerator plants in Italy. They are hoped to overcome the problem.

More than 35% of solid domestic rubbish is treated by incinerator plants In France. Again while burning the wastes a plant generates power. Out of 13 Paris plants nine of them provide city heating.

Waste sorting — is a useful experience for Moscow, which is successfully acquired by citizens. Special machines, receiving used aluminium cans and polyethylene bottles, give quality secondary raw materials. There are more than 3,5 thousand of such machines in the city. They give out money for returned wastes — nearly 50 copecks for a can and nearly 30 — for polyethylene. This system is developing in Moscow; the number of such machines is increasing. Moscowers actively use them: daily collection makes approximately 5 tons of trash — that is nearly a million cans and bottles. They are not taken to polygon, they are recycled. This system is developed in European countries: in German cities 98% of bottles and cans are returned for recycling, and citizens get money or coupons for them which they can use to buy something.