In 2020, the collection of secondary raw materials in Belarus wen up by 3.2% over 2019, BelTA learned from the Secondary Raw Materials Operator.

In 2020, the country collected 789,900 tonnes of secondary raw materials, including 394,600 tonnes of waste paper and cardboard, 188,900 tonnes of glass waste, 97,600 tonnes of plastic waste, 54,400 tonnes of worn tires, 22,200 tonnes of used car oil, and 29,100 tonnes of waste electronic and electrical equipment (old household appliances). The collection of secondary resources increased the most in Vitebsk Oblast (up by 10.3%).

According to the company, the use of municipal waste reached 25% in 2020 thanks to the increase in the collection of secondary raw materials. In 2019, the use of secondary raw materials stood at 22.5%.

Thanks to the extended responsibility mechanism for producers and suppliers of goods and packaging, a total of Br148 million was invested in the collection and recycling of municipal waste in the country in 2020. As much as Br61.1 million was allocated through the compensation for collection costs to encourage organizations of various forms of ownership to collect secondary resources from municipal waste. Another Br81.8 million in investments was allocated to expand and upgrade the infrastructure for collection, sorting, recycling and preparing secondary raw materials for use, including building necessary facilities and purchasing equipment.

Last year, the extended producer and supplier responsibility mechanism helped finance major projects to construct a waste sorting plant in Vitebsk, to build a production line to use RDF fuel at subsidiary No.1 Cement Plant of Krasnoselskstroymaterialy, and to upgrade the production line to make polymer pelletizers at OAO Belvtorpolymer, and other projects.

Belarus purchased 3,208 various containers for separate waste collection in 2020, including Eurobins and semi-underground containers. The country also bought around 355,034 plastic containers for municipal solid waste and secondary raw materials that were handed out for free to residents of private houses across the country.

Written by: belta.by