Влияние реформ системы управления твердыми бытовыми отходами на благосостояние местных сообществ (на примере Москвы и Московской области)Impact of reforms of the solid waste management system on the well-being of local communities (Study Focus: Moscow and the Moscow Oblast)

Globalization metrics rank Moscow as an alpha global city and the second most populous city in Europe. The city’s rate of urbanisation and population growth has increased over the past decade triggering outward urban sprawl and the attendant need for spatial development within the city’s suburb - the Moscow Region. This study focuses on the impact of waste management reforms on community welfare. The recent reforms have triggered the need for inter-regional cooperation between the Moscow city and the Moscow region municipality. The paper reviews the policies driving this partnership and the inter-sectoral network facilitating waste management. Comparative analysis is conducted to show how Moscow ranks in comparison to other global cities which have also recently implemented waste reforms.  Partnership effectiveness is evaluated via a multi-indicator approach, alongside qualitative thematic analysis comprising public surveys and the review of legal, administrative and operational documents. The findings reveal that properties located in close proximity to waste disposal sites experience economic depreciation of 2.3% per kilometre which negatively affects residents and the surrounding infrastructure. Multiple policies have been enacted to cater for increased volume of waste generation, but they have not been truly effective in curtailing waste generation or indiscriminate dumping. Waste management in the Moscow region is also primarily facilitated by inter-regional cooperation between municipalities. Study findings also reveal the need for inter-regional cooperation is characterized by the convergence of socio-cultural factors, common territorial boundaries, provision of public utilities and urban spatial constraints.