WASTE AS A RESOURCE: THE IMPACT OF ROP ON THE FORMATION OF THE SUBSTANCES AND RAW MATERIALS MARKET IN BELARUS AND RUSSIA (A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CLOSED-LOOP ECONOMY)

Abstract

The article presents a comparative analysis of the development of secondary material resource (SMR) markets in Belarus and Russia against the backdrop of the global trend toward a circular economy. Despite a shared Soviet legacy in environmental management, each country is currently developing its own regulatory framework and unique waste management systems, giving rise to both similar and distinct challenges. Particular attention is paid to the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a primary tool, viewed as a central driver creating economic incentives for the extraction of SMRs and their reintegration into the economic cycle. Based on the analysis of official statistics (taking into account methodological differences in accounting for municipal solid waste (MSW) in Russia and SMRs in Belarus), the study examines achieved results and systemic issues. Belarus demonstrates more stable growth in per capita recycling but faces challenges regarding low profitability in processing complex fractions and equipment obsolescence. Russia, possessing vast volumes of waste, leads in absolute investment and the scale of federal reforms, yet still disposes of a massive volume of MSW in landfills, facing difficulties with logistics, regional disparities, and public distrust in separate collection systems. Despite different trajectories (planned state management in Belarus versus a market-project approach in Russia), both countries have set ambitious waste recycling targets for 2030. Achieving these goals will depend on successful digitalization, the creation of economic incentives for deep processing, and the resolution of infrastructural issues, with each country's experience offering valuable insights for mutual consideration with in the framework of Eurasian integration.