Exporting Finnish Waste Management Expertise to Northwest Russia
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The goal of the project, which has also been referred to as Arcwaste, was to create the opportunity for companies in Oulu to access the waste management market in Northwest Russia. This was to be done by assessing potential development areas, primarily in the Arkhangelsk city area, and to strengthen the cooperation between waste management companies in Oulu and Arkhangelsk.

Main activities

• Assessment of the potential development areas and the necessary collection, logistics and handling technology investments within the city limits of Arkhangelsk • Conduction of a market study for Finnish companies • Elaboration of an operational plan until 2010 of the future waste management investment projects in the Arkhangelsk region and the export potential of waste management expertise • Planning and building of a waste-source separation system in one area of Arkhangelsk • Study of the funding sources • Assessing and interviewing Finnish waste management companies, studying quotations regarding waste management purchases • Transfer of information to the City of Arkhangelsk representatives regarding EU regulations on organising waste management and implementing landfill sites.

Achievements

Under the project, a market study for Finnish companies, an operational plan until 2010 of the future waste management investment projects in the Archangelsk region and the export potential of waste management expertise, and a separate study of the funding sources were all completed. These reports can be utilised in planning follow-up projects and business activities in Archangelsk and more extensively in Northwest Russia. In addition, Finnish waste management companies were assessed and interviewed and quotations regarding waste management purchases were studied. A lot of information was also given to City of Archangelsk representatives regarding EU regulations on organising waste management and implementing landfill sites. Based on the agreement between the Finnish and Russian teams and the development needs of the City of Arkhangelsk, eight project package descriptions were created as a joint effort. The project packages were related to the completed market study and the operational plan. In addition, a pilot project for building a waste-source separation system was planned and implemented in one area of Arkhangelsk, where the investment and expertise needs associated with collection equipment and transport machinery were researched. The city residents who participated in the pilot project were clearly satisfied with the results; however, according to the study of the status of waste management completed for Ecofoster Oy during 2007–2008, source separation has not been continued after the project. This was most likely caused by changes in the leadership of the City of Arkhangelsk. It was also recommended by the project that the entire administration and implementation of waste management of Arkhangelsk should be reformed but this has not come true, either. Ultimately, the project did not generate a great deal of interest in the companies in the Oulu region or a trend towards Arkhangelsk. The commercial negotiations regarding a landfill compactor between the City of Arkhangelsk and Tana Oy produced results after the project when the City of Arkhangelsk purchased a landfill compactor from Tana in Vaajakoski. In addition, a scale recommended by the project has been acquired for the Arkhangelsk landfill site.