September 24, 2012: OST-EURO GmbH, a German company active in the field of consultancy for municipalities in Russia visited the city of Taganrog. The working visit was planned by GIZ (German Academy for International Cooperation), the "Council of Municipal Corporations of Rostov Oblast" Association and Taganrog Local Government within the framework of the project "Reform of Russian municipal enterprises" and was dedicated to waste management. The delegation was headed by Dr Emil Markwart, expert on Russian Law working in Russia since 1992 and regional manager for Rostov Oblast and Perm Krai and Mr. Radu Cretan, CEO of Global Trade GmbH.

The visit started with domestic waste recycling area, sorting facility and other stages of waste processing by municipal corporation "SpetsAvtoKhozyaystvo". After this tour, a meeting with Taganrog housing & communal services was held at the office of Deputy Mayor Valentin Moiseenko.


Radu Cretan, Global Trade GmbH CEO and Chairman of "SSI Schäfer" presented the results in waste sorting and recycling that were achieved in the city of Braunschweig, Germany. The sorting of wastes with the following after this recycling allows reducing the waste volumes by 70%. It improves the situation in the domestic waste recycling area and benefits to the environment.

The system suggested by the German side is already being tested in the city of Perm, Russia, where the recent poll showed that 78% of its citizens are ready to sort their waste.


Are the citizens of Taganrog ready for such system? That's not an ordinary question. Deputy Mayor Moiseenko believes that to implement such a project, a shift in mentality is needed, along with laws, fines, and other measures. "We need to thoroughly consider everything", said Valentin S. Moiseenko - "It is certain that such waste management is a vital demand of the time. Sooner or later we'll come to this".

The parties agreed to organize a trip by a team of specialists from Taganrog to Braunschweig, Germany to study the waste processing system.