Residents of a Novosibirsk apartment building are locked in a dispute over the fate of their garbage chute, with some favoring its closure due to odors and pests, while others, including disabled individuals and pensioners, argue it’s a crucial convenience. The conflict highlights a growing trend of such disagreements in apartment buildings across the city, fueled by cost concerns for management companies and accessibility issues for residents.

The conflict at 7/1 Denisa Davydova Street involves a 9-story building where the HOA voted to seal the garbage chute in all entrances, citing complaints about smell and insects. Dissatisfied residents, particularly in the “toxic” fourth entrance, allege the vote was rigged and argue that the closure disproportionately affects those with mobility issues. One resident, Elena Soychenkova, a disabled person, finds it difficult to dispose of waste due to her condition and the location of the outdoor garbage container.

Those in favor of sealing the chute cite hygiene concerns, with one entrance head claiming that Soychenkova throws prohibited waste into it. Another head stated that it isn’t difficult for her to take out the trash. The HOA maintains that the decision was made legally, with the support of a majority of residents, and that they have received approval from the prosecutor’s office and the State Housing Inspectorate. They intend to proceed with sealing the remaining chutes.

The issue is not isolated, as Rospotrebnadzor reports a rising number of complaints regarding garbage chutes in Novosibirsk. According to Vadim Ageenko, management companies often seek to eliminate garbage chutes to reduce expenses, leading to conflicts with residents.

The State Housing Inspectorate emphasizes that decisions regarding garbage chutes require a two-thirds majority vote of all apartment owners and must not be successfully challenged in court. They also recommend sealing the chutes in buildings with grocery stores nearby to prevent rat infestations.