Background St. Petersburg is the largest city on the Baltic Sea, with a developed industrial sector and a population of about five million people. According to the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), it contributes 20% of the pollution in the Baltic Sea. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) contaminated with heavy metals and soluble hazardous substances is one of the main sources of pollution. St. Petersburg produces around 5 million cubic metres of MSW per year. At the time of the project, there was no selective waste collection and no appropriate policies for waste minimisation, reuse and recycling. Contamination by heavy metals, plastics, and other pollutants make it impossible to produce compost for agriculture. As a result, St. Petersburg needs to improve its MSW management policy. Objectives The project's overall objective was to create conditions for reduction of pollution by heavy metals and hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea caused by the solid waste of St. Petersburg. The project planned to implement an Environmental Action Plan for Municipal Solid Waste Management in St. Petersburg. Expected results included: • Characterisation of solid waste streams (quantity, composition, etc.) and current management (legal framework, separate collection, treatment methods, etc.); • Environmental Management Action Plan for MSW including waste minimisation, separate collection, reuse and recycling, transport, environmentally sound treatment, and environmentally sound disposal of ultimate residues; and • Implementation of a pilot demonstration project based on recommendations of the plan. Results The beneficiary carried out all project phases more or less as planned. The project foresaw, however, the production of “guidelines” and “recommendations”. The end results were relevant and helped reach the objectives of the project. Following a review of the existing administrative structure and legislation, two pieces of new legislation were prepared by the project: • “Regulations for land use and building up” – the latest version of this document is consistent with the new City Planning Code. • “Municipal standard for storage and exchange of spatial information” – this document was approved by the Resolution #206 of the City Council deputies in 2004 The documents have taken into account european experience, including knowledge gained during a study tour to Germany and information provided by the Danish partner. The project also reviewed the current status of GIS, data collection and processing. A workshop was held on the effect of land use planning on the city development. In addition, the beneficiary carried out a series of four lectures for City Hall staff on GIS. The training appears to have been implemented as planned but its impacts are not clear. The project also made several recommendations for the improvement of environmental management, including the establishment of a new Department for Ecology and Nature Management within the City Hall. Reviews of the green areas and parks in the city were also undertaken, resulting in regulations and action plan for the Max Ashmann Park. A range of awareness-raising activities were organised. These included two competitions aimed at schoolchildren and two public meeting as well as a workshop on public involvement in the decision-making process at the local level. Finally, dissemination materials were produced including several brochures, a video, project mugs and the creation of a website. The beneficiary was also active in ensuring the project was regularly featured in newspapers and on television.