PECULIARITIES OF THE FORMATION OF REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF TRANSITION TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This work presents a system analysis of modern tendencies of civilizational development, defines principal characteristics of the concept of sustainable development. It substantiates the provision that one of the most pressing problems of sustainable development is the global environmental problem, that concentrates in it particularities of the numerous problems of socio-economic nature. There are two blocks of environmental problems – problems related to the contradictions between the society and the environment (functioning of the system «societynature ») and social problems associated with contradictions within the society (functioning of the system «man-society»). The conclusion has been made that any economic development must be correlated to the ecological potential, that is interpreted as the amount of natural resources sufficient for the continuous economic growth, as well as stability of the established, lifefriendly relationships in the natural environment ensuring reproduction of conditions of the environment disrupted by human activity, and reproduction of natural resources used in the process of economic activity. Proceeding from the generalized existing interpretations of sustainable development, it is stated that the concept of sustainable development can be considered as a paradigm of further development of civilization that gives the opportunity to comprehend the problems of modern civilization in the global context; helps to systematically comprehend the regularities of development of the society; encourages resolution of local, regional problems in terms of the global context. It has been established that transition of functioning of the socioeconomic systems to the principles of sustainable development must be a totally controlled process that has to be implemented with a high degree of scientific foresight. There has been backed up the statement that modern society is a powerful source of production and consumption waste and the substance and particularities of waste management system formation have been defined. There have also been proposed ways to resolving the problem of waste and the principles of formation of the waste management system have been formulated: a) «the principle of taking precautionary measures» – measures must be taken to prevent the threat created to the environment by waste even in the absence of scientifically confirmed data; b) the principle – «the polluter pays» – producer or owner of waste must bear the costs connected with waste management; c) «proximity principle» – waste must be treated at the nearest waste treatment facility, taking into account environmental and economic efficiency; d) «principle of self-sufficiency» – necessary formation and operation of an integrated and adequate municipal network of facilities for the placement and recovery of municipal waste. The work proposes strategies for resolving the problem of waste. Strategy I – reducing the need for the product; strategy II – changes in the product; strategy III – changes in the use of products. The choice of waste management strategy has to be determined on the basis of analysis of the processes of production and consumption of a particular product. The waste management system has to be based on the fundamental principles of environmental management, on the basis of the adequate strategy and tactics. It is determined that the problem becomes urgent of developing measures of economic incentives in the field of waste management.