A group of environment nongovernmental organizations assessed the ecological situation in Chisinau in 2014 ad updated the Environment Black Book of Chisinau. Waste management remains the most serious problem of the capital city. About 1.6 million tonnes of garbage were stored at the waste dump near the Purcel mine during four years. The head of the Chisinau Local Organization of the Ecologist Movement Vladimir Garaba told a news conference that the waste dump near the Purcel mine is the largest unauthorized dump in Europe. The local authorities haven’t yet found solutions for recycling solid waste, IPN reports.

Vladimir Garaba noted that there is no infrastructure for collecting and processing construction waste, while the building of a waste processing factory is delayed. A solution is to resume the process of storing waste at the waste dump in Tantareni.

Another problem highlighted by the environment NGOs is the diminution of the wooded areas. According to data possessed by these, over 1,000 hectares of green areas were destroyed in the capital city during the last 20 years. “The authorities and judges admit that dozens of hectares of green areas were illegally allocated for erecting buildings on them. The number of cases of illegal cutting of trees and bushes inside quarters has increased. It is impossible to monitor the cutting process as there is no register of green areas,” said Vladimir Garaba.

Another problem included in the Environment Black Book is the increasing level of air pollution with toxic substances and gas. The NGOs are also dissatisfied with the fact that the municipal authorities haven’t yet worked out an environment strategy. The problems identified by the environment NGOs will be submitted to the Chisinau City Hall and the Ministry of the Environment for taking notice of them.

Contacted by IPN, deputy mayor of Chisinau municipality Vlad Cotet denied ecologists’ accusations that the waste is illegally stored near the Purcel mine, saying a field that is 7 hectares in area was temporarily allocated for the purpose by a decision of the Chisinau Council. Negotiations are held with experts of the EBRD and EIB for identifying money for building a waste soring and processing factory in Tantareni. The problem of waste collection in Chisinau is close to being solved.

Vlad Cotet noted he is against erecting buildings in the green areas of Chisinau, but all the relevant decisions are taken by the municipal councilors.