In Irkutsk, the mayor's environmental teams tested a new waste collection scheme in the private sector. Residents were given bags to clean their yards, then a garbage truck collected the filled bags. The experiment on Alarskaya Street pleased residents, who even suggested holding such events regularly and are ready to pay for them, while many refused container installation. In autumn, the results will be presented to deputies, and if approved, the idea could be implemented next year.
The mayor’s environmental squads tried collecting garbage from the streets of the private sector using a new scheme. Its essence is as follows: the members of the mayor’s environmental squads selected several streets in the private sector where there are no container sites, handed out garbage bags to residents with a request to clean up the areas around their homes, and two days later loaded the already filled bags into a garbage truck.Today, garbage was collected on Alarskaya Street. The filled bags stood by each house. The residents liked the experiment. They are asking for such actions to be carried out at least once a month. They are even ready to pay for it. But they refuse to install garbage containers, because in one day the area around them turns into an unauthorized dump.
“This was an experiment, and judging by the number of bags collected, it was a success,” said Vladimir Chubuk, head of the Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety Department of the Irkutsk administration. “The technology for collecting household waste in the city requires different approaches. In some places we install container sites, in others we try to introduce the ‘bell’ system. In the fall we will present today’s action for consideration to the deputies of the City Duma; if they deem it successful, then starting next year we will implement this method.”
The sanitary condition of most streets in the private sector in Irkutsk leaves much to be desired and has long been one of the city’s main problems. It is fully resolved where residents of private houses unite into TSOs (territorial public self-government), as well as on streets whose residents are conscientious and sign contracts with the MUP “Spetsavtokhozyaistvo” for garbage removal. Mayor’s environmental squads provide great assistance to the city. They are formed every summer from students and high school pupils. In total, there are four squads with 25 young people in each. Every day except weekends, the members of the environmental squads go out to clean the streets of the private sector and the areas where Irkutsk residents like to relax.
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk city administration