Recycling and disposal of household wastes are becoming an increasingly acute problem worldwide. One person in the United States annually produces more than 900 kg of waste, which is about 2.5 kg per day. In Russia, this annual rate reaches up to 400 kg.
Have you ever thought how much waste is generated daily in your family? What is the percentage of paper, plastic, glass, or organic waste among all the collected?
Within the framework of the joint project with the Global Environment Facility “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan Integrated Development of Green Cities in Ashgabat and Avaza”, UNDP, together with more than 20 ministries and departments, is promoting a new model of behavior among the residents of Ashgabat, aimed at changing the system from “garbage collection” to the practice of “waste management”, and their disposal.
Mixing the concepts of “garbage” and “waste” is one of the fundamental mistakes that have led to the clogging landfills on a global basis and, as a result, to environmental pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
When a person thinks of waste as garbage, then intuitively wants to throw it away.And everything that is thrown away ends up in a landfill.Waste is the result of overconsumption, something that can be reduced, recycled, and reused.
If we start controlling what we throw away, we can give a second life to many of these things. For example, tin cans, old clothes and household appliances will go to recycling, not to landfill.
As a result of two campaigns in Ashgabat in 2019-2020, more than 36 tons of plastic, 4 tons of paper and 1.5 tons of glass were collected and sent for recycling.
Sweden, for example, is one of the world leaders in waste recycling. According to the local recycling association Avfall Sverige for 2019, only 0.8% of all country’s waste was sent to landfills.
The Swedes do not focus only on recycling. The first step in waste management is to prevent waste generation, which means both reducing the volume of waste in general and reducing the toxic substances in it. The country is committed to completely waste-free production and promotes the Zero waste concept.
“Much attention is paid, in particular, to food waste.For example, citizens are told that they must buy the right amount of food and store it correctly.
As for other types of waste, in particular clothing, if it is in good condition, it can be handed over for recycling or to an organization that collects it,” notes Avfall Sverige.
Residents of Germany began to collect garbage separately in the late 1980s. Now the country has a clear sorting system there should be at least three containers near the house.