Waste management reform: which path to take for communities

 

On July 9, 2023, the norms of the Law of Ukraine “On Waste Management" entered into force. It
launches a waste management reform and establishes new rules for local authorities to manage
household waste in communities”.

“Household waste management should be approached systematically and economically: the best
waste – those that were not generated, and the one already present is not a problem, but a valuable
product for further processing. The result of such approaches will not be long in coming and will be
felt both for the environment and people’s health, and for the country’s economy as a whole,” Oleg
Bota, director of Center LTD, believes.

The waste management hierarchy includes the following sequence of measures: prevention of waste
generation, preparation for reuse of waste, processing of waste (recycling), restoration and other
utilization, including by recovery with energy production and finally disposal to a landfill.

What are the general requirements for household waste management in communities?
– Waste should be collected separately
– Separate collection refers to such types of waste as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal.
– Conditions are being created to ensure separate collection of bio-waste, textiles and other waste.
– Large, repair, hazardous and green waste are collected separately
– Residential areas are equipped with container sites for separate collection of waste.

What is a local waste management plan for?

The local waste management plan is a document containing a set of interrelated tasks and
measures aimed at ensuring sustainable waste management in the community. It is developed by a
working group or external experts within one year of entry into force of the regional waste
management plan for a period of 10 years. The document is mandatory for development by all
territorial communities.

By January 9, 2024, each community must determine of the household waste management
service administrator. Administrator allocates funds and monitors proper service delivery,
concludes contracts with service providers and population, records payment information, appeals to
debtors and unscrupulous service providers, calculates and submits the tariff for approval.

It is necessary to provide centralized household waste management services not only to all
settlements of the community, but also to all its residents who have to pay for the use of waste
management services.

Why are municipal waste management centers in communities needed?
Local governments may establish municipal waste management centers. The center can perform
several functions: a garbage disposal station, a sorting line, a reception point for recyclable materials
and a reception point for used items for human reuse.

What about the landfills?

As of January 1, 2030, the operation of landfills and dumps that are not equipped with biogas and
leachate extraction and disposal systems, air emission monitoring systems, and soil and groundwater
pollution monitoring systems is prohibited. These requirements do not apply if the business
undertakes a waste disposal plan into compliance with the requirements of the law in accordance
with the schedule determined by the terms of the permit for waste treatment operations. Most
communities need to close and rehabilitate landfills located on their territory. This especially applies
to numerous rural landfills, as their re-equipment is economically and ecologically impractical. It is
worth noting that the removal of unsorted household waste to landfills is prohibited.

To understand what steps your community should take in order to establish quality waste
management, you need to answer the following questions: how should the community implement a
hierarchy of household waste management, what kind of waste collection system should be
implemented, whether it is necessary to create a Municipal Waste Management Center, how to
prioritize the closure of landfills, how to introduce new approaches to the organization of solid
waste landfills, whether the community needs a waste sorting and recycling plant, how to effectively
cooperate in this area with neighboring communities.

Don’t know where to start?

Specialists of the “Center LTD” Company will help you in search for answers, with the development
of local waste management plans, project documentation for modern solid waste landfills, waste
sorting and waste processing plants, the search for the best technologies and solutions, prioritizing
the closure of landfills, implementing new approaches to the organization of solid waste landfills,
using waste as raw materials for secondary processing and energy production.
The company “Center LTD” has many years of experience in the field of ecology, design and labor
protection. For 12 years in a row, together with local self-government bodies, businesses and
investors, the Company is actively involved in solving waste management issues in communities
throughout Ukraine.

You can find a full list of the Company’s services and work experience on the official website
center-ltd.com.ua For professional advice, call: +38 096 781 05 37, +38 067 725 54 32 or send
questions to e-mail: eco@center- ltd.com.ua