WASTE-ACCUMULATION PROBLEMS DISCUSSED AT ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION FIRST DAY

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Armenian Environmental Ministry together with United Nations Development Program started Monday a ten-day campaign focused on environment protection. Every year, on June 5, international community marks Environment Protection Day.

The campaign initiators hope to enhance people awareness of environmental problems and increase their willingness to take care of natural resources.

The event’s first day began with addressing to waste-related issues. There are about 80 trash dumps in Armenia. Environmental Minister Vardan Ayvazyan told journalists the problems linked to waste accumulation are hardly solved because the sphere is completely out of state control.

It should be noted that, according to the government decision, local authorities are in charge of that.

Two companies are carrying and removing waste. They are fulfilling their duties not well, especially regarding financial aspect. As a result, the trash dumps are being left without fuel for bulldozers to put fetid garbage under ground.

The minister says 350 thousand tones of garbage are being accumulated in Armenia each year. Only 4% of that garbage is domestic wastes.

It should be reminded that three years ago a Japanese company offered our government to recycle domestic wastes in order to produce electricity.

To our question at what stage the problem is, the minister said it would be better to ask the question to Yerevan municipality.