It's Time to Get Serious About Our Environmental Impact

I'm stoked to see all the folks who stumbled upon this page!

I've been passionate about environmental concerns for a long time, dating back to my school days when we'd organize paper recycling drives. Those events were always a blast, and I realized even back then how crucial they were. But, I spent most of my life in a small town that wasn't exactly a hub for waste management and recycling. People would get all riled up about the mountains of trash, but nobody seemed to care about how to reduce them or where to take the stuff that could be recycled.

When I moved to Krasnodar for university, I felt a sense of excitement. I started participating in local environmental initiatives and events, and in 2021, the 'Clean Environment' eco-center opened, which has been a game-changer for me.

First off, I've got to say that the location is super convenient. It's right in the city center, so you've got easy access to public transportation. I used to live within walking distance, but even after I moved to a different neighborhood, it was still pretty easy to get to.

Eco-center locationAnother plus is the flexible hours: the eco-center is open from 12 to 20 every day. I think that's pretty cool, as it caters to different people's schedules.

The staff is also super friendly and helpful – they'll guide you through the process, answer any questions you might have, and make you feel welcome.

When you step inside, you'll find a spacious room with designated bins for different types of recyclables.

Different recyclable fractionsBefore you bring your recyclables, make sure to check a few things:

Is your stuff prepared for recycling (is it clean, dry, etc.)?Is it even recyclable (check the list or ask the staff)? Remember, mistakes can ruin the whole batch, so it's better to ask questions and be sure.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that they accept some pretty rare recyclables, like contact lens containers or X-ray films.

Rare fractionsI've noticed they also accept common types of recyclables like various types of plastic, multi-layer packaging (tetrapack), paper, metal scraps, and so on.

Plastic bottlesOutside, on the territory of the eco-center, there are large containers for collecting glass packaging.

Glass packagingThey also collect items and items for various campaigns and organizations: plastic lids ('Good Lids'), items for the charity fund 'Your Home', aluminum lids for volunteer cleanups, and so on.

Collection of items for charityAnother plus is the option to order an eco-mobile to deliver recyclables that are hard to transport on your own.

Nothing's perfect, right? So, there are some downsides:

Some fractions have stopped accepting over time due to certain reasons. For example, the very common PET plastic not used for bottles, which you might notice in the kitchen department as containers for storing ready-to-eat food. And that's a big problem, considering many people would rather cook at home than buy takeout.The 'Clean Environment' eco-center exists solely due to its activities and people's donations. It's not just a stone, but rather a huge boulder in the government's system, where important issues are being ignored, and useful initiatives aren't supported. So, here's the hope that people will be more aware of their responsibility for the environmental crisis happening around us.

I'd definitely recommend that residents of Krasnodar get involved in the topic of separate waste collection and recyclables. The 'Clean Environment' eco-center is a great place to do so. And residents of other cities should take note of similar organizations in their area. I think it's time for us all to get closer to nature, which, in essence, gives us everything.

Thanks for reading the review! Feel free to share your thoughts, and I'll be happy to read them!