On 5 June, the World Environment Day, Lake Baikal Foundation launched the «Trash Free National Parks» project aimed at resolving the problem of left garbage and dump heaps across the protected natural areas. The project is an example of sustainable cooperation between the Foundation, SPNA (Special Protected Natural Area) and the recycling company.
The pilot project on implementing the new sustainable waste management system was launched in Zabaikalsky National Park, the Republic of Buryatia. The preparation for the launch involved the representatives of Lake Baikal Foundation, administration and employees of the FSI «Zapovednoye Podlemorye» and Zabaikalsky National Park, representatives of the recycling company «Baikalecoservis» and volunteers of the project.
A shift to the sustainable waste management standard started with the implementation of the «Carry In – Carry Out» principle, creating the infrastructure for separate garbage collection and educational program for tourists coming to the national park. From 5 June 2019 on Zabaikalsky National Park has 5 recycling points for plastic, glass, metal, other waste. Recyclables accumulated in the national park will be transported to the recycling plants across Russia. The recycling points are situated in Ust-Barguzin (checkpoint of the national park), Monakhovo, Kurbulik, Sorozhya, camping Myagkaya Karga. According to the new rules, visitors are obliged to separate and dispose waste only at the points listed above. They will be assisted by volunteers. Specially designed information boards will help to follow the rules correctly. The important thing is that during the summer 2019 tourists can get a special «green» ticket in exchange for separated and correctly disposed garbage. With a «green» ticket one can get the national park’s services for free.
It is worth mentioning that the Trash Free National Parks got the state support from the Presidential Grants Foundation. 4,9 mio rub allow to expand the list of activities within the project, particularly to implement in 2019-2020 a research on morphology, dynamics and logistics of waste in Zabaikalsky National Park, which is needed to improve the waste management system in the sustainable development framework.
Lake Baikal Foundation expresses gratitude to all people who contributed ideologically or materially to the project. We give thanks to the administration and employees of the FSI «Zapovednoye Podlemorye» and Zabaikalsky National Park; to the designer Svetlana Trifonova for pro bono creating of information and educational materials for the project; the recycling company «Baikalecoservis» for pro bono transportation of waste (including recyclables) from the Zabaikalsky National Park.