Opportunities for Solid Waste Management Enhancement in Russia through Civil Society Engagement

Constantly growing and consistently developing population of the world, widespread urbanization and the necessity in Sustainable Development Goals’ achievement by 2030 highlight the urgency in significant changes in public policy, environmental behavior of the people and collective action towards all the tasks fulfillment. This study emphasizes the necessity in solid waste management modernization in worldwide context and its proximity to the population, as most of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include ecological targets the society may influence by altering its behavioral patterns towards sustainable consumption and living. The lifestyle changes crucial for this research consider sustainable choices people make and demonstrate by their eco-friendly demeanor whether individually reducing their carbon footprints, or collectively by involving ecosystem services while discussing the climate change issues, making decisions or educating others to put “human lenses” while addressing the SDGs’ 2030 Agenda. Due to its high urbanization and annual solid waste generation rates in the Russian Federation, and only recent reformation processes of the SWM system (2018–2019), which is experiencing wide critics form the official analytical centers in Russia, the country requires a comprehensive SWM enhancement based on sustainable solid waste management principles to rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle solid waste (the five Rs). Recognizing the role of civil society actors in promoting innovation and learning, and in facilitating sustainable and integrated solid waste management modernization worldwide (case studies of Malaysia, Kenya, Mozambique, Japan and the United States of America), this study attempts to investigate main trends in solid waste management modernization in the Russian Federation, citizens inclusion in the process, and to understand opportunities for the SWM enhancement by civil society engagement. Thus, the research question of this study is the following: How can civil society engagement boost solid waste management enhancement in Russia? Therefore, object of the study is presented by civil society actors functioning in the sphere of solid waste management modernization in Russia, while the subject of this research is emphasized by the opportunities for SWM enhancement in Russia by civil society engagement. In order to fulfill the tasks of this study and to answer the research question, this study applies methodological triangulation for increasing diversity and validity of provided and analyzed qualitative data. Firstly, theoretical and empirical foundation of the study is facilitated by a profound literature review of more than 110 academic and empirical works crucial for investigating solid waste management modernization by civil society engagement from international, national and local perspectives. Secondly, the review of the official documents and publications on solid waste management modernization in Russia from 2018–2019 as the years of massive SWM reformation there is provided. Thirdly, content analysis is presented of the data gathered during the observations and expert interviews the Second International Exhibition and Forum “Clean Country” (March 17-18, 2021) in Skolkovo, Moscow Oblast. The main contribution of this research is in demonstration of the existing opportunities for solid waste management enhancement in Russia through civil society engagement. Moreover, the novelty of the research results should widen the understanding of the important role civil society initiatives play in SWM modernization in Russia and promote successful collaboration and learning among policymakers, private sector organizations and civil society actors in the Russian Federation and other economies in transition.