The Sutyskivska territorial community in the Vinnytsia region has received a Swedish refuse collection truck powered by biomethane to develop its household waste management system and improve the quality of waste collection services for the community’s residents.
The 2016 Mercedes Econic refuse collection truck was previously in service in the municipality of Motala (Sweden). As part of a fleet renewal programme, the Swedish side decided to transfer the vehicle to Ukraine. The vehicle underwent the necessary maintenance prior to the handover.
The transfer of the vehicle is taking place as part of the WM4U programme, which supports Ukrainian communities in developing a modern household waste management system. Potential recipients of the aid are assessed against a range of criteria, including the community’s urgent needs, its capacity to use and maintain the equipment effectively, and the expected impact on service quality.
The Sutyskivska community was selected to receive the refuse collection truck following a comprehensive assessment. Key factors included the need to expand the coverage of waste collection services, the presence of a municipal utility capable of operating the vehicle, and a willingness to cooperate with neighbouring communities.
‘Biomethane is a common type of fuel for heavy goods vehicles in Sweden, but it is less common in Ukraine. Fortunately, some of the communities participating in our programme have biomethane filling stations nearby. This makes it possible to provide vehicles such as this Mercedes Econic. We believe that the refuse collection truck will help extend waste collection services to a greater number of community residents,” said Klas Svensson, International Donations Coordinator, WM4U programme.
The Sutyskivska community comprises the town of Sutysky and the villages of Shershni and Huta-Shershnyvska. The community has a total population of approximately 5,900 residents. The community is working to expand its separate waste collection system but requires additional resources to increase service coverage and improve the regularity of waste collection.
“Our community suffers from a lack of suitable machinery (the community has no bulldozers, excavators or refuse collection lorries). At present, we are forced to hire machinery, which is quite costly. Acquiring a modern refuse collection truck is an investment in the future of the Sutyskivska community, its environmental safety and the well-being of its residents. The vehicle will enable us to improve the efficiency of the waste management system, enhance the quality of municipal services, and make our community cleaner and a more comfortable place to live,” says Leonid Didukh, Chair of the Sutysky Settlement Council.
An additional benefit is the opportunity to collaborate with neighbouring communities, which are also receiving biomethane-powered vehicles under the WM4U programme. The availability of refuelling infrastructure in the Luka-Meleshkivska community creates the conditions for exchanging experience on the operation of such vehicles and for developing inter-municipal cooperation in the field of waste management.
The Donations’ component of the WM4U programme aims to strengthen the technical capacity of local communities in the sphere of household waste collection and transport by providing containers, vehicles and other equipment. Under this component, Swedish municipalities transfer existing equipment to Ukrainian communities, whilst the WM4U programme provides organisational support and arranges delivery to pilot clusters in the Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Poltava and Kharkiv regions.