The situation with wastes in the city can be divided into two periods: before 1991 and after 1991 in connection with the transition of the republic from a strict administrative system of economic management to a market economy . Changes have taken place in the economic structure, accounting methods and statistical reporting, the ecological control over the activity of economic entities and also in the accessibility of information to the public.

Industrial wastes

Domestic (municipal) wastes

 Beginning with 1991 the economy was in decline that was accompanied by a fall of production in industry and a growth in the sphere of trade and services. It was happening at the background of a constant growth of urban population. The waste structure has altered: industrial production wastes have diminished; services and domestic wastes have grown.

            Waste products may be divided into production wastes and consumption wastes. Production wastes comprises radioactive and toxic wastes. The problems of the storage, removal and utilization of these wastes are the responsibility of enterprises producing it. Agricultural production is left out of account. Consumption wastes are registered and collected from the population and enterprises by municipal services.

            Without being sorted out and processed the city wastes are removed to waste storage sites which already do not conform to sanitary requirements. That leads to the contamination of soil, subsoil and ground waters. The majority of waste storage sites do not have washing facilities for waste-disposal vehicles. Everyday covering of wastes with earth, their destruction, inflammation control are not done. There are no refuse processing plants, what is especially urgent because of the lack of free territories for new waste storage and the expansion of the existing storage sites.