Residents of the Sysert district are actively protesting the planned construction of a waste sorting and processing facility intended to handle waste from Yekaterinburg, with the remaining waste slated for burial. Concerns over environmental safety and the lack of local support for the project have fueled ongoing opposition.

The head of Sysert, Dmitry Niskovskikh, has acknowledged the community’s concerns and stated he would not oppose relocating the waste cluster to another urban district. Niskovskikh emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with regional authorities. He clarified that local authorities primarily implement decisions made at the regional level regarding waste management, with municipalities only responsible for the location of container sites.

Residents have been holding weekly pickets at the Governor’s administration for two years, expressing skepticism about the environmental safety of the proposed landfill, citing concerns about streams and groundwater contamination.

The proposed site is located on land belonging to “Agropromcredit,” a bank affiliated with energy and utility figures. Despite promises from the new regional head, Denis Pasler, to address the landfill issue, no further comments have been made since the summer of 2023.

Public hearings held in November revealed widespread opposition to the landfill construction plans. While the governor has stated that the Sysert location is only one option being considered, the urgent need to address Yekaterinburg’s waste disposal, as the Northern landfill nears capacity, remains a pressing issue. Officials and businessmen held a presentation in September 2023, but failed to reassure residents about the safety.