Project information

Goals:

• Development and implementation of a modern communal Waste Management Concept for the island of Olkhon.
• Strengthening of the economic foundation to provide for the sustainable development of the Lake Baikal region.
• Restoration and preservation of the ecological functioning of Lake Baikal.

Primary Motive:

Olkhon – the Island of Sunshine and Cleanliness!

Primary Ideas:

• Elimination of uncontrolled dumping.
• Education of and collaborating with the local population.
• Reduction of waste produced and implementation of recycling programs.
• Proper disposal of non-reusable residential waste.

Project Span:

September 2006 – August 2008.

Tasks and Provisions in the First Project Year:

• Investigation of the current national environmental policy goals.
• Development of waste management goals for the island of Olkhon.
• Appraisal of the residential waste situation on the island.
• Evaluation of current residential waste management practices.
• Analysis of the problem and discovery of areas in need of attention.
• Selection of a suitable area for interim disposal of residential waste.
• Development of potential methods to reduce and reuse waste.
• Formulation of residential waste management strategies with the following focal points:
  • The possibility of separated trash collection and the use of sorting facilities to aid recycling efforts;
  • Selection of a suitable waste collection and transportation systems (such as curb-side or collection systems), especially in the camping areas along the coast;
  • Selection of a viable process for the reduction of organic mass before trash is sent to a landfill; for example, the separate collection of organic waste;
  • Assessment of each region’s ability to reuse the waste it produces;
  • Determine the feasibility of the implementation of modern waste management technologies (best available techniques) under the given conditions;
  • the need for landfills for non-reusable waste.
• Development of a concrete local waste management concept.
• Formulation of suggestions for financing such a plan (taxes, duties, fees).
• Construction of a small environmental laboratory at the Technical University of Irkutsk, which would make practical chemical and physical analysis of residential waste as well as the creation of internship opportunities possible.
• Implementation of qualitative and quantitative waste analyses.
• Seminars and internships, in which university students, school students and members of the environmental protection agencies can be further educated.
• Construction of a website in English, German and Russian.
• A public relations campaign with information about the goals and work being conducted by the project (the printing of flyers and posters).

Universities:

• University of Duisburg-Essen, Chair for Environmental Management, Germany.
• The Technical State University of Irkutsk, Chair for Raw Material Preparation and Environmental Protection, Russia.

Project Partners:

• Department of Environmental Protection, Administration of the Irkutsk Region, Russia.
• Administration of the Olkhon Governmental District, Russia.
• Non-Governmental Organization "The Baikal Wave", Russia .

Target Groups:

• Population of the island of Olkhon.
• Tourist companies in the Irkutsk region.
• Faculty and students of the Technical University of Irkutsk.
• Disposal companies.
• Small and mid-size companies in the recycling and resource processing sector.
• Domestic and foreign media.