Waste disposal

Waste disposal and utilization is one of the most urgent issues of the day. The city dump, in accordance with planned storage capacity, has no future limits. Therefore, during the last years, construction of new city dump becomes increasingly necessary. Complexity of surrounding landscapes makes selection of new waste dump difficult.

The refuse collection technique is out-of-date. During the last ten years, only 8-12 specialized waste collection vehicles have been introduced into practice. The absence of dustbins complicates the process of waste transportation and handling. Unauthorized landfills are usually placed near the grocery bazaars, markets as well as in southeast, south and west city microrayons.

There are 22 managed waste deposit sites. However, concurrently with those sites, there are 15 rather big unauthorized waste sites and a few small ones. Average accumulation of solid communal wastes in Dushanbe is 0,8-1 kg/day per capita, which is equal to 0,8-1,5 m3/year.

Solid communal waste generally contains scraps, leftovers, paper, construction materials, plastics and glass. Plastic bottles, metals and other items for the second time used by population or consumed by local industry. There is now not any centralized recycling or handling of wastes.

In the conditions of arid and hot climate, spoiled garbage very adversely affects the environment. It decomposes and flows down to the irrigation ditch, poisons the soils, blows away by the wind around the city. Burning of foliage, notwithstanding prohibition, leads to the unfavorable air conditions in autumn season. In that time, some city streets fill with smoke. However, the Khukumat is combating such circumstances.

Many inactive building sites and foundation ditches became landfills for solid communal and construction wastes. Special ground for storage of industrial waste is absent in the city. Most of industrial wastes are stored on the city dump, thereby increasing environmental and health risk.

At present, secondary waste handling is in common practice by industries. Some categories of dangerous wastes are stored on the specialized industrial territories, and they are subject to environmental payment.

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