From scrapheaps to sustainability: How Norilsk is leading the Arctic green initiative
Illegal tyre dumps were once a common sight in Norilsk, creating an environmental hazard and an eyesore for residents of the industrial Arctic city. According to environmental regulations, used tyres must be recycled, but the city lacked the necessary infrastructure.
Valeria Tereshkova, a Norilsk native, took on the challenge with support from Nornickel corporate program. In 2020, her company Severmetallstroy, which specialises in metal scrap recycling, acquired equipment to begin recycling tyres as well. The tyres are turned into rubber flooring, which is ideally suited to the harsh conditions of the Arctic winter.
Demand for the recycled rubber is high among contractors carrying out landscaping and repair work in playgrounds, fitness centres, garages, public institutions, and other facilities. The environmentally friendly material is easy to install and can be produced in any shape, colour, or size. Queries from potential clients come from all over the country, and the company is able to offer competitive prices on its ‘Arctic floors’. The company is currently producing 70,000 square metres of flooring per year and has plans to expand production.
Valeria participated in Nornickel's GR accelerator, a project set up to empower local businesses with the help of public organisations. In partnership with Norilsk’s authorities and major municipal organisations, she plans to create a network of free tyre collection points so that every resident can recycle them quickly and conveniently.
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