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homes. When waste is recycled and reintroduced into the production cycle, it operates within the framework of a circular economy, minimizing damage to the environment. However, only 6.6 % out of the 45.9 million tons of SMW produced in 2022 was recycled, FinExpertiza report states.
Paper and cardboard rank second in household waste after food waste, with plastics in third place, followed by glass and metals in fourth and fifth positions. All of these materials can be sorted and processed for recycling rather than being disposed of in landfills.
The Green Cause project was initiated by Ecomir, a social enterprise based in Kaliningrad that specializes in collecting recyclable materials from the public and facilitating their subsequent sorting and recycling.
METHODS USED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
Oleg Paukov, the founder of The Green Cause project, was inspired by a television program in 2015 that showcased enthusiasts collecting recyclable materials from garbage bins and subsequently selling them to recycling facilities. He thought it would be more efficient to collect the recyclables directly from households and corporate offices. To test his idea, Oleg sold his car to buy a small panel van, consulted a business directory, and began reaching out to companies, offering waste paper removal services. People responded positively, and the service quickly gained popularity. Initially, Oleg Paukov offered 1 ruble per kilogram of recyclables while selling them to processors at 5 rubles per kilogram. This formed the foundation of his business model.
Over time, the volume of work expanded, the variety of accepted recyclables broadened, and the project gained employees, a small warehouse, partners, a project website, and a social media presence.
The project currently operates as follows: residents submit requests on the website, specifying the type and weight of recyclable waste they want disposed of. A collector then arrives on a convenient day to pick up the accumulated recyclables. The following materials are accepted for recycling:
• Waste paper;
• Cardboard;
• Aluminum and tin cans;
• PET bottles;
• Clear polyethylene;
• Colored polyethylene;
• Clear and colored bags marked #5;
• Polypropylene bags and big bags (soft containers used for transporting goods);
• Polypropylene twine;
• Bottles, containers and cups (marked #1, #4, #5);
• Bottles (marked #2);
• PVC products (panels, skirting boards, pipes, etc.).
Recyclable materials are compacted into bales at the warehouse and then delivered to major wholesalers and recycling facilities. Individuals can also drop off their recyclables at the nearest separate waste collection container. The container map is available on The Green Cause project website for convenience.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARDS
In 2016, The Green Cause project received the Amber Mercury Business Award from the Kaliningrad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in two categories: “Successful Startup” and “Best Small Enterprise in Creative Industries.”
In 2017, the project was honored with the “Impulse of Goodness” Award in the “Personal Contribution to the Development of Social Entrepreneurship” category.
In 2021, the project secured a regional grant in the form of a subsidy amounting to 5.4 million rubles for implementing elements of separate solid municipal waste accumulation.
DIRECT RESULTS FOR 2022
The project successfully collected 23.5 tons of PET bottles, 200 tons of cardboard, and 50 tons of white paper.
SOCIAL IMPACT ACHIEVED DURING THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD
In 2019, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kaliningrad region sought the assistance of The Green Cause project in organizing the collection of recyclable materials through dedicated containers. The initial installation of 60 collection sites took place at the end of 2019, enabling the depositing of paper, plastic bottles, and metal. In 2020 and 2021, The Green Cause won a regional competition to maintain and oversee these collection points. Subsequently, an additional 30 containers were installed, featuring a dedicated section for glass recycling, and then another 71. Presently, Kaliningrad boasts 161 separate waste collection sites. Given the increased volume of recyclable materials, the regional waste management operator, the “Unified Waste Management System” State Enterprise of Kaliningrad Region, took on the responsibility of maintaining these containers. Oleg Paukov, The Green Cause founder, was invited to spearhead the development of a comprehensive regional waste separation initiative. The Green Cause continues its mission under the leadership of the project’s new head, Alexandra Tsirulnikova, still accepting requests from residents and offices in Kaliningrad and surrounding areas for the removal of recyclable materials. The project also remains committed to its environmental education efforts.
Project founder Oleg Paukov is proud to note that Kaliningrad has become the pioneering Russian city to establish separate waste collection for three distinct types of raw materials: PET, metal, and paper/cardboard. That’s three different containers, unlike the standard two found in other cities.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL
Collecting recyclable materials from the public to be resold to processors and major buyers.
PROJECT IMPACT
According to its founder, The Green Cause project has encouraged the residents of Kaliningrad to actively participate in waste separation, marking a significant departure from the earlier limited volunteer efforts. As of the end of 2021, approximately 78,000 people in the Kaliningrad region are actively engaged in separate waste collection — a statistic disclosed by Governor Anton Alikhanov via his social media channels.
The Green Cause project has also played a pivotal role in promoting a culture of waste separation among the local populace. Through its initiatives, it has popularized the practice of waste sorting and recycling within the community. The project author’s observations indicate a noticeable reduction in the average contamination levels of recyclables in the dedicated collection containers. Up to 80 % of the container content was contaminated at the project’s inception. Within a few years, this number has dropped to a commendable 20 %. This shift underscores the increasing
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