Abstract
Introduction: one of the topical directions of the study of environmental policy and reforms in the sphere of municipal solid waste (MSW) turnover at national and local levels is the analysis of public expectations and the expected management of the resulting data. Objectives: to identify the sentiments and expectations of the population experiencing intense negative impact as a result of proximity to waste layout and disposal facilities. Methods: sociological (questionnaire) survey and mass media monitoring based on “Medialogy” system. Results: respondents living near landfills show a high level of anxiety about environmental well-being of their place of residence. Nevertheless, most respondents do not consider the prospect of landfills expansion to be high: of all the most dangerous sources of environmental distress, rather than landfills, they are most focused on industrial emissions, unauthorized garbage dumps and emissions from motor vehicles. The majority of respondents (65%) see the “garbage” reform as a threat to personal economic well-being and assess the reform in terms of utility tariffs, but not in terms of benefits and feasibility. The revealed contradiction between the actual goals of the reform and its impact in social sphere can be adjusted using the «preventive» approach in treatment of public opinion. Conclusions: government policy on landfills remediation is rather reactive and pre-emptive to potential tensions in residential areas neighboring such sites. Respondents are potentially willing to take action in the event of a deteriorating situation, including complaints to authorized bodies, but are not aware of organizations responsible for landfill maintenance. The “garbage” reform pushed by a number of well-known environmental protest actions, is valued at a low rate by a significant part of respondents. At the same time, people are least prepared to tackle the issue effectively on their own, resorting to radical changes in their lives to reduce environmental damage.