Khloponin finds the problem of waste disposal in NCFD critical

Over the past seven months, specialists have detected in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) more than 530 illegal dumps with a total area of over 300 hectares. The information was announced at the sitting of the Council on Local Self-Government in the NCFD, held in Nalchik on March 19. Alexander Khloponin, the presidential envoy for the NCFD, has treated the situation as critical.

"We are leaving a huge dump of garbage to future generations; they'll need decades to dispose it," said Alexander Khloponin.

The annual volume of solid domestic wastes generated in the NCFD is about 4 million tons, said Nikolai Sevostianov, the head of the "Rosprirodnadzor" for the NCFD. The largest number of illegal dumps was found in Dagestan – 121, in Chechnya – 89, and Stavropol Territory – 88, the RIA "Novosti" quotes Mr Sevostianov as saying.

The problem of waste disposal is so acute that "we must urgently create waste treatment facilities and bring the issue to the Government of the Russian Federation," said Alexander Khloponin. In his opinion, one of the ways out can be involvement of private business to recycling.

"Attract investors, create conditions for them; development of the waste recycling industry is the top priority for all the NCFD subjects," the "sk-news.ru" quotes the plenipotentiary as saying.