The operator of the landfill on Mount Shchelba was fined for harming nature.

The court in Novorossiysk fined the operator of the "Terra-N" landfill 19 million rubles for polluting the Ozereika River and the Bezymyannyy Stream.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in May 2025, Rosprirodnadzor filed a lawsuit against the owner of the landfill at Mount Shchelba in Novorossiysk (LLC "Terra-N"), claiming non-compliance with environmental protection requirements in waste management. During a fire at the landfill, specialists found traces of leachate in the forest near the landfill, in the Bezymyannyy Stream, and in the Ozereika River.

The Lenin District Court of Novorossiysk fined the operator of the solid municipal waste (SMW) landfill "Terra-N" 19 million rubles. The company was found guilty of polluting the Ozereika River and the Bezymyannyy Stream, reported "Kommersant" today.

In January 2024, Rosprirodnadzor specialists identified extensive pollution of water bodies in the area adjacent to the landfill on Mount Shchelba in the suburbs of Novorossiysk. The environmental agency's inspection showed that the specialists of LLC "Terra-N" did not ensure the proper functioning of the landfill's drainage system. As a result, after heavy rains, wastewater overflowed from the drainage channels and entered the Bezymyannyy Stream and the Ozereika River.

The Bezymyannyy Stream flows into the Ozereika River, which empties into the Black Sea near the village of Yuzhnaya Ozerievka. The village, located 12 km from Novorossiysk, is a small resort area with recreation centers and guest houses, according to the publication.

17:26 03.04.2025

Plans to reconstruct the landfill in Novorossiysk outraged social media users

The area of the fire at the landfill in Novorossiysk has decreased, and a decision has been made to extend its operation for two years and carry out reconstruction. Users on social media indicated that the landfill should be closed, and the money should be directed to the construction of a waste recycling plant.

Residents of Novorossiysk have previously complained about the landfill. In June 2024, the landfill burned for several days, and in August, residents again complained about acrid smoke from the fire at the landfill. In November 2024, it became known that the landfill would be reconstructed, although it needs to be reclaimed.

By the end of 2025, two new sections for waste burial will be built at the landfill, the governor announced on August 1. The expansion of the landfill will not solve the environmental problem but will only increase risks, including the risk of fires, as noted by ecologists and local residents.

The landfill in the village of Borisovka was established in 2013; it is the only legalized waste disposal facility for Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik. The facility has a capacity of 160,000 tons of waste per year, but according to the territorial waste management scheme, about 230,000 tons of waste are generated annually in Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik. In fact, the landfill accepts a significantly larger volume of waste, and under such conditions, the landfill has prematurely "exhausted itself", said ecologist Yevgeny Vitishko in January.