Recovery and recycling of metals from wastes have a major role in the economy because of the scarcity of raw materials and the problem of environmental pollution. This article reports a technical study for the development of electrodynamic separator for municipal solid waste treatment. Recovery of fine non-ferrous metals from waste streams is a problem in separation technology (for particle sizes below 40–50 mm). The article shows the possibility of solving the problem. Pilot industrial sample of electrodynamic separator with the linear induction machine is briefly described. The investigation results of electrodynamic separator for the recovery of aluminium alloys from multi-component municipal solid waste are given. For separation of fine (or sieved) fraction of municipal solid waste is provided a electrodynamic separator based on the double-sided linear induction machine.

There was presented urgency of ecological construction. There was offered the concept of eco house. As a natural building material for eco house was offered straw. There was described its construction, sound and heat insulating properties, that entirely satisfied construction standards. There were revealed undeniable advantages of straw as an ideal building material in comparison with known natural materials. There were explored explicit and hidden defect of straw for the building of eco houses. There were considered ways of elimination of existing lacks and features of straw as ecological building material. There were given the recommendations for technology enhancement for straw-bale building. There was drawing a conclusion about the prospects of straw-bale building and the need to develop standard designs and designer solutions for Russia.

The possibility of use of crushed rock and clay soils screenings modified with a stabilizing additive Element in road construction has been investigated. There have been studied the physical, physical and mechanical characteristics of the original minerals and specimens on their basis, the chemical composition of Portland cement with respect to the state standards on test methods and technical requirements. It is shown that waste crushed stone production can be used to obtain frost-resistant cost-effective materials in road construction, relevant to the brand strength M 40 – M 60. It will not only reduce the consumption of expensive materials, but also to solve a complex of urgent environmental problems that makes this work particularly relevant.

There were presented the results of remote sensing of the state of disturbed lands of objects of the fuel and energy complex in the Krasnoyarsk Krai. There was established the structure of disturbed lands in the course of coal mining by the open method, as well as the lands of thermal power plants involved in coal generation of thermal and eclectic energy. For coal strip mines it was suggested to use the same reclamation of disturbed lands by combining overburden with the mining and reclamation stage, and for the thermal power plants recommendations were given on the use of technologies for exploitation bottom-ash receiver with simultaneous reduction of costs for the construction of enclosing dams and reduction emissions of polluting and harmful substances into the atmosphere during their construction.

There were considered the results of experimental studies on the development of the composition for the production of of wall ceramic products, including low-plastic clay of Suvorovsky deposit of the Vladimir Oblast and technogenic waste – galvanic sludge of local production. In order to improve the physicomechanical characteristics, it is proposed to introduce into the composition of the developed ceramics a modifying additive – boric acid. There was obtained a ceramic material having a significant mechanical strength (up to 2.8 MPa). An assessment of the potential hazard of samples of ceramic products was carried out on the basis of a study of the migration of heavy metals to aqueous model media and the method of of biological testing. The developed ceramic samples are environmentally safe, it is possible to use the developed composition in the production of wall ceramic products.

The special features of the Central part of the Kola Peninsula’s natural resource management are described. The Khibiny and Lovozero mountain massifs are the most dynamically developing areas of the Murmansk region. The environmental situation is determined by the industrial use of natural resources. The economic specialization of the region is the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials. Nowadays the area is characterized by complex conflicts of natural resource management.

The current practice demonstrates the inconsistency of the applicable environmental legislation – it is contradictory, cumbersome and non-transparent. One of the reasons for this problem is the approach taken by the legislative bodies to the rule-making process. This approach does not allow taking into account the interests of all parties of regulation and monitoring the integrity and consistency of the norms of legislation and individual regulatory legal acts. The article presents a conceptual approach to the norm-setting, which enforces the creation of structured and transparent legislation. Also there were presented to the results of this approach application in the field of environmental protection.

There are presented the results of complex ecological and geochemical analysis of natural environments (snow cover; soil; vegetation) in the city of Kudymkar (Perm region). For the first time ecotoxicant content in deposited media, the toxicity of soil and the total number of soil microorganisms have been evaluated. The maps of the city pollution were drawn up after investigation. It is proposed to use this area as a "background" in environmental studies in the Perm region.

There were presented key directions of innovative activity that led to the emergence of biotechnological solutions and the creation of second and third generation biofuels. There was characterized the complex of basic economic risks which it is necessary to consider at the organization of manufacture and use of biofuel. Based on the results of analysis, new opportunities in the conversion of industrial and agricultural waste, including organic, containing lignocelluloses biomass, A number of conditions and prerequisites for the establishment of industrialized production complexes in the Russian Federation that can transform organic waste into biofuel. It is noted that the background allows us to consider the development of biofuel production in Russia as a promising innovative path for various areas of economic activity that positively affects the state of the environment.

The evaluation of the state of mine water, sediment, soil and vegetation in the area drained by the waters of the miner sulfide-tungsten deposit is considered. It is shown that the acid mine waters with total salinity up to 4153 mg/dm3, high Fe, S, F, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, As, Sb are a major source of contamination of the surrounding area. The maximum accumulation of S, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sb and Cd observed in bottom sediments of mine waters. It is established that the soil and the plant area drained miner waters, in terms of the total contamination are highly contaminated. The priority pollutants in soils are Zn, Cu and Cd, for plants – Zn and Cd.

The concept of ecological culture occupies today one of the central places in the interdisciplinary scientific discourse and acts as one of the tools for transforming social practices by changing their axiological basis. In this work an attempt is made to consider it genesis and modern meaning. Taking into account the cultural-historical, anthropological and civilization context. Emphasis is placed on the dual nature of modern culture, in which there is a demand for the approval of environmental values in social practice and consumerism in relation to the environment. The latter limits the possibilities of the concept of ecological culture in terms of influence on the development of society. The conclusion is made that the heuristic potential of this concept is not is fully realized and its digression can become an adequate civilization response to the global ecological crisis.