Association «StekloSouz» of Russia. Interdepartmental meeting on organizing separate collection of cullet for glass factories

On June 18, 2024, the Association "StekloSouz" of Russia (hereinafter referred to as SSR) held an interdepartmental meeting on the organization of separate collection of cullet for glass factories.

The meeting was attended by:

⦿ Viktor Osipov, President of the Association "StekloSouz" of Russia

⦿ Igor Teryushkov, President of the Interregional Industrial Corporation “ECORECYCLING”

⦿ Anna Belichenko, chairman of the organizing committee of the annual public award “Regions - Sustainable Development”

⦿ Dmitry Tuknov, Advisor to the President of the SSR

⦿ Alexey Savin, Chairman of the SSR Ecology Committee

The meeting was held within the framework of the decisions of the heads of glass factories dated January 16, 2024, and May 15, 2024. and 06/04/2024 The decisions made recommended, together with specialized organizations and financial institutions, with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation and relevant ministries, to organize separate collection of cullet and secondary raw materials for factories.

Negotiations with the leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation took place yesterday and continue on a systematic basis.

Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, has prepared proposals to solve one of the main problematic issues of modern Russia. The document is being studied in the relevant ministries of the Russian Federation.

The reason for the active activity of "StekloSouz" was the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation on extended producer responsibility (EPR). According to regulatory documents of the Government of the Russian Federation, responsibility for the collection and re-melting of cullet falls on Russian glass factories. Several decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation do not take into account many factors that do not allow 100% collection of raw materials by 2028. The documents do not take into account technological processes, chemical composition of the charge, etc.

In addition, in Russia there are no factories for the production of secondary raw materials from cullet. For example, a plant was built in Belarus that supplies secondary raw materials to factories in the amount of 500 thousand tons per year. This allows us to successfully meet the needs of the country’s glass factories and successfully export to other countries, including Russia.

As you know, detailed calculations were sent by "StekloSouz" to interested government agencies for study and decision-making.

Glass market participants have confidence that problematic issues will be resolved with evidence. Unfortunately, government bodies have not created a register of recyclers, which prevents the necessary work from being carried out to develop the consumption of recycled materials by factories.

Not all participants in the secondary raw materials market have a clear understanding of who is the recycler of secondary raw materials. Factories that have glass melting furnaces are convinced that they are recyclers, refining cullet to the condition necessary for melting into new products.

The meeting participants, understanding the systemic problem, made a joint decision.

The next meeting will be held on June 25, 2024. in the Association "StekloSouz" of Russia.

Press center of "StekloSouz"