A new approach to the estimation of damage from littering, contamination, and disturbance of urban land

The concept of soil as a basic component of various ecosystems, including u rban ones, is developed. Negative consequences of littering, contamination, spoiling, and destruction of the fertile soil layer in urban territories a re considered. It is argued that a differentiated approach should be used t o assess the role of soils in urban territories of different functional use . The procedure for calculating damage caused by this disturbance is descri bed. This procedure is implemented in the method officially approved in Mos cow. The basic calculation equations, reference data, and calculation examp les are provided.