Finland gives Russia a hand with garbage

A two-year joint project has led to the demolishment of dozens of illegal dumps and provided Russia with new waste containers. However, local administrative authorities are not even ready to cover costs for trash bins, Yle News reports. Still, there seems to be no solution in sight for final waste processing. Waste management is up to six times more expensive in Russia than in Finland, and municipalities do not have the financial capacities to handle the problem. Nevertheless, Finnish project participants are happy with even minor results. They point to a pilot project located north of Vyborg, in Russian Karelia. The area was once filled with trash. Now dozens of illegal dumps have been turned into playgrounds and summer cottage areas, all equipped with composts and waste containers, Yle News reports.