Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 4 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 4(2023)

New Life of the Publishing Project “Catalog “Social Entrepreneurship of Russia”

“A Journal Within a Journal” — that's what you can call this section. It is an extension of the Social Entrepreneurship in Russia catalog published since 2014. Since 2021, the catalog has become part of the Positive Changes Journal.[144]

The Green Cause Project

Waste Collection and Sorting for Recycling.

https://clck.ru/36jpiP

The Green Cause is a project that offers the residents of Kaliningrad the opportunity to separate their waste and reduce the amount of garbage generated. Kaliningrad residents only need to accumulate 5 kg of recyclable materials, and a waste collector will come to pick it up for recycling. This service is provided free of charge to the city’s inhabitants.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED

The average Russian generated a staggering 312.6 kg of waste in 2022, according to data from Rosprirodnadzor, as reported by the analytical service of FinExpertiza audit and consulting network.

Solid Municipal Waste (SMW), which includes common household garbage resulting from human activities, is primarily produced by urban residential neighborhoods, offices, and private 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