Irkutsk residents have actively joined the nationwide Make it campaign. In four days, 47 dumps appeared on the citys electronic trash map, and more than 50 calls came to the hotline. Residents report illegal dumps, overflowing container sites, and polluted cemeteries, while volunteers and utilities check addresses and prepare cleanup.

Irkutsk residents have actively joined the trash cleanup campaign “Let’s Do It!” Four days have passed since the start of the All-Russian campaign “Let’s Do It!” The organizers note the high level of activity among city residents. Since the start of the campaign, 47 dumpsites have been marked on the electronic trash map in Irkutsk. On average, about ten new marks appear on the map every day. At present, the city’s utility services check the map daily and are preparing for their cleanup.
Information about dumpsites in the city is also coming from residents who called the hotline at 740-747; to date, more than 50 calls have been received. The problems people report are unauthorized dumpsites in public places, as well as overflowing trash collection areas near homes, shops, hair salons, and industrial zones. Many calls concern polluted cemeteries. All information received by phone is sent to the campaign’s organizing committee for verification. Members of public organizations and campaign participants go to the specified addresses, photograph the dumpsites, post the photos on the eco-map, and assess whether they can remove the trash themselves. If the volume of the dumpsite is significant, municipal services will begin the cleanup; each is responsible for cleanliness in a designated area of the city.
“Speaking about the city’s districts, it is still impossible to say that any one district is more polluted than the others; calls are coming from everywhere. The hotline makes it possible to gather the basic information our volunteers need to get started — the address and a detailed description of the dumpsite, as well as the possible reason for its appearance. We ask callers for their contact details so that we can get in touch with them if there are difficulties in locating the dumpsite. It is gratifying that the level of civic awareness is so high. Having received so much feedback from them at the first stage, we gain more strength and confidence in our actions,” said Valentina Kazmirenok, a campaign participant and employee of the Irkutsk City Local Public Organization for the Design and Implementation of Social Innovations “Chelovek.i”.
Press Service of the Administration of the City of Irkutsk