Drowning in waste, Russians fume over lack of recycling Russian president Vladimir Putin promises to recycle 60% of waste at the end of his mandate in 2024. This promise is considered unrealistic by the activists who believe that only private initiatives can be effective. According to the official statistics, only 6% of waste is recycled in Russia, while France recycles 42% and Germany 68% of its waste. More than 90% of household waste ends up in landfill dumps, not including numerous illegal dumps. IMAGES of a landfill dump in Moscow region and waste sorting centres in Moscow and SOUNDBITES of advocates of recycling, of a private recycling project's manager and its clients