Rostov-on-Don: residents collect signatures against construction of plant for sludge incineration

Residents of Rostov-on-Don collect on the Internet signatures against the construction of a plant for sludge incineration, which is planned to be built in 2014. Residents of Rostov-on-Don doubt the safety of the future plant, while the authorities assure its full environmental friendliness.

"Sludge is a waste of biological wastewater treatment. It includes most of the pollutants contained in the city wastewater, including industrial wastewater. Without proper treatment, sludge accumulates a range of hazardous substances from heavy metals to organic compounds," the "Caucasian Knot" was told by civil activist Irina Bugaenko, an author of the petition.

According to the civil activist, introducing a plant for sludge incineration, the authorities choose the path that creates the appearance of the problem solution. "Instead of imposing order on the system to control discharges and motivate enterprises to build local wastewater treatment plants, the authorities choose to build a 'miracle plant', which, according to the official statements, will somehow magically eliminate pollutants," Irina Bugaenko has said.

The civil activist has noted that they collect signatures on the Internet and that the organizers intend to collect 200 signatures and then to send the petition to Mikhail Chernyshov, Mayor of Rostov-on-Don.