EcoLur
Garbage collection and sanitary cleaning is one of the main problems in Yerevan. Yerevan Municipality Communal Services and Sanitary Department Head Hovhannes Aharonyan presented the following data: 80-85% of domestic waster in Armenia is generated in the capital, which makes up 1300-1400 tons of solid wastes per day, the main part of which is taken to Nubarashen landfill site. Up to 400,000 tons of garbage is generated during each year. "If we continue using the landfill site in the same way, it will continue serving from 10 to 15 years. This problem needs urgent solution," Hovhannes Aharonyan said. Under him, around 8 million tons of garbage has been accumulated in Nubarashen landfill site starting from 50's up to present.
12 specialized enterprises are currently dealing with the garbage collection, while starting from 14 April 2014 two companies will be engaged in garbage cleaning: Swedish 'Ecogroup' Company, which will clean the eastern part of the city, and Lebanese "Sanitech" Company in the western part of Yerevan.
"In 2014 the garbage collection in Yerevan will comply with the European standards. All the machinery and bunkers will be changed. This is the first part of problem solution process. Currently we are running negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the construction of garbage recycling and sorting facility. We are going to develop new areas after Nubarashen landfill site,' Aharonyan said.
Under Expert Arman Vermishyan, Armenia doesn't have sufficient data for organizing recycling of garbage wastes. ‘There are expert data, but we need studies, how much population and how it's distributed, the weight, volume and composition of garbage,' Vermishyan noted. He also thinks that sorting should start not from the facility, but from the start of the process. And we need to work on reducing garbage, particularly plastics. 'It's achievable,' Vermishyan said.
October 21, 2013 at 11:39