Dzerzhinsk is drowning in garbage.

      Is it possible to force the regional operator to timely remove garbage from container sites?

      One of the key issues raised by the deputies of the City Duma at the meeting of the relevant committee was the unsatisfactory organization of garbage removal from the container sites in Dzerzhinsk. The elected representatives noted that the crisis situation has persisted for more than six months. Back in January of this year, the publication "Reporter" reported on systemic complaints from residents and citizens of suburban settlements regarding the quality of services provided by the regional operator "Nizhecologia-NN". At that time, the possibility of early termination of the contract with the company was discussed. Subsequently, meetings were held with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Nizhny Novgorod region and the regional operator, but they did not lead to significant changes.

      The situation remains static

      In March, the Dzerzhinsk deputy corps sent a request to "Nizhecologia-NN" demanding a schedule for the removal of solid municipal waste (SMW). In addition, the parliamentarians appealed to the Ministry of Ecology asking for increased control over the activities of the regional operator, and recommended that the city administration conduct an inventory of the container sites. Three months later, it became clear that there had been no progress in resolving the problem. As reported by the chairman of the committee on municipal economy, Oleg Bogdanov, to date, the approved schedule for the removal of SMW from the municipality has not been provided, and the established norms are systematically violated. The situation is even more acute with the removal of bulky waste (BW). "The situation has not changed to date," said Oleg Viktorovich. "If SMW is removed relatively timely, bulky waste is removed from the sites at most once a week, and often once every ten days." It is natural that such an approach causes justified dissatisfaction among the population. As Oleg Bogdanov reported, the "Dzerzhinsk Management Company" has already installed twenty eight-cubic-meter "boat" bins with a capacity of up to 4.5 tons at the container sites in an attempt to rectify the situation. The company "Nizhecologia-NN" also announced the installation of seventeen similar large bins. However, according to the committee chairman, these measures are purely temporary. "I believe that starting in August, when mass vegetable processing by the population begins, the load on the container sites will increase and the situation may worsen," predicted Oleg Bogdanov.

      Lack of operational regulations

      According to the head of the deputy association, the regional operator's position regarding construction waste left by residents negatively affects the sanitary condition of the sites. "Nizhecologia-NN" adheres to the following tactic: if construction waste (for example, old door blocks) is found at the site upon the arrival of the garbage truck, the regional operator categorically refuses to remove it," explained Bogdanov. The responsibility for cleaning up these non-profile BW is placed on the management companies. However, the employees of the management company have an extensive list of current tasks, while the regional operator apparently lacks even an officially approved route schedule. "The first priority measure that the regional operator should take is to develop two clear schedules: the first for the removal of containers with SMW, and the second for the removal of bulky containers," believes Oleg Viktorovich. "None of these documents currently exist in Dzerzhinsk."

      Briefly about Oleg Bogdanov's proposals to solve the garbage removal problem.

      Development of regulations

      Demand that the regional operator "Nizhecologia-NN" provide and strictly adhere to two official removal schedules (one for SMW and one for BW).

      Inventory and control

      Assign passports to each container site with clear documentation of the responsibility of a specific management company, as well as establish accounting for the actual volumes of waste from legal entities.

      Combating over-expenditure

      Tighten control over marketplaces and retail outlets that understate the volumes of garbage in contracts to eliminate the shifting of their costs onto tariffs for the population.

      Increase in the fleet of equipment

      Achieve an increase in the number of garbage trucks to normative indicators (12 vehicles for SMW and 6 for BW).

      Involvement of regional authorities

      Initiate an emergency meeting with the participation of the Minister of Ecology to develop a new comprehensive action plan, as previous meetings yielded no results.

      Responsibility of legal entities

      Meanwhile, the management companies of Dzerzhinsk have completed the inventory of container sites. As Oleg Bogdanov noted, a passport has been issued for each site with a clear indication of the responsible management company. In the housing sector, the volumes of waste generated in apartment buildings (AB) are calculable. However, the situation is more complicated with legal entities renting premises in these buildings. Organizations formally conclude contracts for garbage removal, but usually declare one volume while actually disposing of significantly more. Marketplaces show particular activity in this practice. As a result, the over-expenditure of tariffs falls on the shoulders of conscientious residents. "Currently, there is no complete information in Dzerzhinsk about the actual accumulation of waste by legal entities," admitted the head of the committee. "Such information only appears fragmentarily if an entrepreneur independently concludes a contract in the field of ecology." The first deputy head of the administration, Gleb Andreev, intervened in the discussion: "We are working to compel legal entities to conclude contracts. An administrative fine of five thousand rubles is provided for their absence. Although such practice is still rare, certain precedents have already been set." Oleg Bogdanov expressed doubts about the effectiveness of control measures regarding unscrupulous traders using the containers of residential buildings. "Unfortunately, legal entities today remain outside the close attention of regulatory authorities, and it seems that inspections of their activities are not planned," he lamented. "I have accumulated hundreds of photos on my phone that document the facts of storing retail packaging and boxes in the containers of AB, while entrepreneurs hide behind the existence of formal waste disposal contracts."

      Finding a way out of the systemic crisis

      It is evident that the fleet of garbage collection vehicles at the regional operator is experiencing a severe shortage. This problem has also attracted attention at the regional level. "At the end of winter - beginning of spring, several meetings were held regarding the problem of unsatisfactory garbage removal. The meetings involved high-ranking officials from the region, including the Minister of Ecology," Oleg Bogdanov reported. "I requested data on the number of special vehicles operating in Dzerzhinsk. The response received was unsatisfactory." It turned out that only five vehicles are actually involved in the removal of SMW (with a norm of 12 units) and only two to three vehicles for cleaning BW (with a required six). Given the current situation, the deputies decided to invite representatives of the Ministry of Ecology (preferably the head of the department himself) to the next meeting of the municipal economy committee to present a new, effective plan for resolving the long-standing problem.

      Alexey SERGUNIN.