How the northern region performed and what cleanup measures were implemented in 2025 became a key topic on the agenda of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee meeting, chaired by Chairman Alexander Rogozhnik.
The results were reported by the Chairman of the Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Roman Koltsa. He recalled that the past year was the first in the five-year plan for quality, and the main focus of work was land cleanup and improvement of settlements. Corresponding measures are carried out in the region annually. Social and transport infrastructure are developing, environmental safety issues are being addressed, and the waste management system is being developed, etc.
In 2025, settlements continued to be transformed: landscaping was actively carried out, and the street and road network was repaired. The demolition of vacant and dilapidated houses was carried out. Great attention was paid to ensuring the operation of drinking water supply systems, street lighting, as well as the construction of sports and children's playgrounds.
Among the priorities is the cleanup of territories of agricultural organizations and production facilities.
The northern region faced challenging tasks for 2025. For a number of indicators, it was necessary to achieve 10-15% more than in the previous year.
Roman Koltsa emphasized that the action plan was approved by the Regional Executive Committee's decision No. 212 "On holding the Year of Improvement" and included 88 items. The measures have been completed, and adjustments were made during the year to increase the targets. In addition, the plan was supplemented.
More than 41 thousand trees and 29 thousand shrubs were planted in settlements, and 25 hectares of lawns were created and repaired. The normative level of green space of 40% has been achieved in all cities of the region.
Work was carried out on the sanitary cleaning of watercourses and reservoirs, and the repair and equipping of sports grounds. 118 small architectural forms were installed and repaired at such facilities, and 82 containers for waste collection were installed. 14 springs were equipped.
– Planned tasks for well plugging have been completed, – added Roman Koltsa. – Work on regulating the spread and numbers of Sosnowski's hogweed has also been carried out over an area of more than 4.5 thousand hectares, taking into account repeat work. In 2026, particular attention must be paid to combating Sosnowski's hogweed in the most infested districts: Braslavsky, Vitebsky, Gorodoksky, Orshansky, Tolochinsky, Ushachsky.
As for the forest fund, 18 new ecological trails have been created on its territory. Sanitary logging was carried out on 5.5 thousand hectares, and more than 935 hectares were cleared of windbreak and storm-felled trees.
Good roads mean logistics, potential for the region's economic development, safety, and comfort for local residents and tourists. Last year, current repairs were carried out on republican roads in the region with a length of 268 km. The areas adjacent to transport arteries were decorated with over 80 small architectural forms. To maintain cleanliness and order along the roads, more than four dozen containers for waste collection were installed.
Eight passenger platforms and ten stopping points have been repaired at railway stations and stopping points.
Significant attention is also paid to the waste management and secondary material resources system. Waste sorting complexes are being built and modernised, and new methods and technologies for utilising municipal solid waste (MSW) are being introduced, etc. As of early January, 22 municipal solid waste landfills are in operation in the region, and 6 have been closed.
The Novopolotsk regional complex for MSW management has been commissioned, and in connection with this, the municipal solid waste landfills of Novopolotsk and Ushachi are subject to closure.
In total, in the region, city and district executive committees have developed and approved 23 waste management schemes for all administrative-territorial units, including horticultural associations and garage cooperatives. More than 77% of horticultural associations registered in the Vitebsk region and about 84% of garage cooperatives have concluded waste removal agreements.
– In order to fulfill the instructions of the Head of State, the Government, and to comply with waste management legislation, measures must be taken to develop and regularly update schemes, as well as to ensure one hundred percent conclusion of contracts, – Roman Kolts noted, adding that the most frequent violation of waste management legislation is their disposal outside of authorized sites (1.3 thousand cases last year).
Work in each of these areas will be continued.
The results of the work of the main control and analytical department were also discussed at the meeting.