The Solid Waste Management Initiative began in December 1999 with a $30,000 grant from the U.S. Information Agency through Sister Cities International. The grant was offered to PKSCA by SCI as part of the U.S. Secretary of State’s strategy for strengthening international relationships through grass-roots, citizen organizations like our Association. The SWMI was heartily welcomed by then Khabarovsk Mayor Pavel Filipov and, with the participation of the Khabarovsk Department of Municipal Services, representatives of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services began working in Khabarovks on problems related to solid waste managment (such as disposal operations in the city dump, support for recycling programs, and planning for a new state of the art landfill.)
From its inception the SWMI has enjoyed the patronage of Khabarovsk Mayor Alexander Sokolov, of Khabarovsk Krai Minister of Natural Resource Protection Gennady Pocherevin and Khabarovsk Krai Minister of Economic Development Alexander Levintal. We have sent to Khabarovsk more than 20 professionals from various Portland, Oregon and Washington government agencies and private companies and have received more than 20 professionals from participating Khabarovsk government agencies. We have received funding from USIA, from the U.S. Agency for International Development, from the Trust for Mutual Understanding, and a number of private U.S. companies. Much of our work has been funded through the Foundation Russian American Economic Cooperation, whose administrative support and encouragement have been critical to our success.
The City of Khabarovsk used Portland’s municipal waste collection program as a model for its new system. City of Portland specialists advised the City of Khabarovsk in the design of transfer stations and the landfill itself. Because they were integral to the City of Portland’s system, the City of Khabarovsk purchased compactors manufactured in the Portland metropolitan area. A decade later, the SSI Shredding Systems compactors were still receiving high praise from Khabarovsk’s engineers. In addition, Khabarovsk specialists traveled to Portland to study Portland’s award-winning recycling program. All this has culminated in a modern solid waste management system befitting the progressive citizens of Khabarovsk.
The Solid Waste Management Initiative continues even today with a focus on hazardous waste managment systems in Khabarovsk Krai. Watch this page for news of new grant funding and new projects.