Puchavičy Raion makes efforts to improve the electronic and electrical waste collection system. International and Belarusian experts discussed the current situation and intended actions at a consultative seminar on September 30.
Mr. Simon Pow, an international waste management expert mentioned in his speech that Belarus has everything necessary for efficient collection of waste electronic and electrical equipment. There are 9 collection centres in Puchavičy Raion alone; there is a wide retail network available for the process and a developed legal framework.
However, only 200 grams of electronic and electrical waste a year is collected in Puchavičy Raion at present; the rest – people would either send to landfills or keep in their summerhouses or attics.
- Puchavičy Raion has the conditions for segregated collection of waste electronic and electrical equipment; however, to reach full capacity, the system needs a powerful impulse – a public awareness campaign, - believes Mr. Simon Pow.
Mr. Ivan Mikhalchuk, a developer of the National Strategy of Municipal Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Management in the Republic of Belarus until the Year 2035, explained how the national waste management system would develop. In 2015, Belarus collected 3,779 tons of electronic and electrical waste including 1,737 tons from individuals and 2,042 tons from legal entities. However, there are plans to collect 24,000 tons in total, or 2 kg per person by the year 2020. This would be largely facilitated by introduction of a deposit/refund system, which has been intensely debated recently.
Mr. Simon Pow emphasized that the WEEE collection system should be safe for the environment and human health, and it should be economically justified as well. To be efficient, waste collection should be arranged in accessible areas without any charges on individuals.
The state-of-the art system of waste electronic and electrical equipment collection is developed with support from the EU project on Waste Management Services Development in Puchavičy Raion. The Puchavičy Regional Executive Committee and Ecopartnership NGO have been implementing it since the beginning of the year. Along with building a WEEE collection system, which is in the definition phase now, the project extends to wide-scale public awareness activities: contests of drawings, participation in city and regional events with the project stand, printing of posters and production of promotional materials. 'Zrobim' Action was held on October 1, 2016 with the project support; it provided for master classes and souvenirs for the participants. Also, thematic billboards will adorn the most popular places in the raion in a short while.
