Environmental education as a tool of sustainable development of territories

The paper deals with the environmental element of the concept of sustainable development. The purpose of the paper is to explore the issue of municipal solid waste management in the Russian Federation and in Sverdlovskaya Oblast. More specifically, it examines the context for successful implementation of the National Ecology Project and the garbage reform against a background of public pressure. There is a need for an integrated approach to broaden the public ‘green’ outlook by engaging educational institutions, business organizations, and mass media. To maintain an ecological balance is in itself a way to ensure sustainable development of territories. The authors believe that environmental education may significantly contribute to raising awareness among consumers and producers for the purpose of sustainable development, and serve as a possible measure of preventing public discontent.