Finland-based TANA a key source for Russian waste industry professionals
Russian government has begun major waste management reform to reorganize the system and establish a more professional approach
In Russia, landfills are filling up and waste is being dumped in unauthorized dumps or transported across the country. The Russian government has begun major waste management reform, to reorganize the waste management system and establish a more professional approach to waste management. Main objectives include creating new sanitary landfills, and utilizing the latest shredders and other advanced sorting & separation equipment to better manage and accommodate the growing amount of waste in the country.
According to TANA, the Finland-based manufacturer of waste and recycling equipment, a group of Russian waste management operators, experts and sponsors visited Finland on April 24-25, 2019 to learn what the latest waste management innovations could do for Russian waste management and the businesses in the industry. Finnish waste management equipment is known in Russia for its high quality and efficient operation.
Clean Country, a Russian waste management organization, was one of the active organizers of the visit. Clean Country works to promote best practices and thought leadership in Russia. This cooperation is a good indication that, while the general public is upset about the situation and changes, the professionals and forerunners in the field are hopeful and are actively seeking new solutions and business opportunities.
"The experience was very well received," said Anniina Rasmus, Key Account Manager at Tana. "At our factory, they saw a lot of machines in production that are soon to be delivered to customers around the globe. That impressed them and further convinced them that these solutions are desired and trusted globally."
According to Rasmus, the Russian operators and experts which visited were especially interested in municipal solid waste (MSW) shredding where the MSW includes all kinds of waste which has not been separated.
"Practically no waste is separated at source in Russia," Rasmus continued. "This means that the waste management equipment has to be able to handle any type of MSW waste, from food waste and diapers to furniture and end-of-life tires. The visitors saw at firsthand that the Tana Shark waste shredder is up to the task."
One of the excited visitors was Sergei Gladstein. He works at Gidrokor, an engineering company in St. Petersburg. The company designs landfills and waste management sites for its customers.
"My experience with Tana landfill compactors goes back many years, and I have been in Finland before. On this visit, my special interest is the Tana shredder and screen. I look forward to seeing how they work together as a complete processing line", Gladstein says.
Waste is a major challenge but also an extraordinary business opportunity
While the waste issue in Russia is a major challenge, it also presents extraordinary business opportunities. According to TANA, Russian waste management operators and other professionals in the field are currently looking for cost-efficient technologies and solutions to address the issue and to help build the new waste management system and culture in Russia.
New technologies enable the profitable processing of waste even if it is not separated at source, as is the case in Russia. For instance, waste shredders process municipal solid waste (MSW) to a smaller size and separate any metals for extra income. In addition, screening the waste shred enables grey compost to be separated. With the grey compost removed, the waste is more sanitary and takes up much less space at the landfill. This creates a complete processing line where all the machines are mobile and can easily be moved where they are needed.
TANA says the changes in Russia are creating a real buzz around the topic. To further speed up the change, the waste management fees paid by citizens have recently been raised. This improves the profitability of the waste management business, but the citizens are not pleased with the new fees. It's no wonder that the waste problem is a hot topic. However, the improved profitability of the waste business has led to several events being planned in May and June, enhancing business opportunities in the field. After the UFA seminar, the Finnish Embassy organizes an event where Finnish companies promote products, services and cooperation between Russia and Finland.
The WasteTech fair in Moscow in early June is also a very important event for discussion and solutions in the waste management sector.
"Interest in WasteTech has been greater than in years," Rasmus says. "That alone tells us that waste management is a sizzling hot topic. Our Russian dealer is there to present Tana's solutions to the waste management issues."
