On 6 October, the Waste Management for Ukraine Programme (WM4U) held a meeting with the newly formed Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, established as a result of government reforms that merged the former ministries of economy, agriculture, and environmental protection.

The WM4U Programme – “Strengthening Municipal Waste Management in Ukraine” is funded by the Government of Sweden through Sida and implemented by Avfall Sverige in partnership with SALAR International. Its beneficiaries include the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and the former Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, now integrated into the new Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Iryna Ovcharenko. The Programme’s delegation was led by Toni Clark, Managing Director of Avfall Sverige; Ryan Knox, Managing Director of SALAR International; and Erik Pettersson, Programme Manager at Sida. The delegation also included Avfall Sverige Senior Advisor Weine Wiqvist, Programme Managers Pontus Färbergh (SALAR International) and Andrik Mols (Avfall Sverige), WM4U Team Leader in Ukraine Olha Hlazunova, and National Expert Oleksandr Ihnatenko.

A New Structure – New Opportunities for Cooperation

The meeting marked an important step in aligning future cooperation between WM4U and the newly established ministry, which now unites economic, environmental, and agricultural policy areas. The discussion focused on the main topics already addressed by the Programme in Ukraine, including:

  • development of a tariff-setting model for municipal waste;
  • harmonisation of regulatory standards with EU legislation;
  • extended producer responsibility (EPR);
  • landfill gas management;
  • landfill taxation;
  • financial support for municipalities in waste management.

“We highly value our partnership with Ukraine. It is important for us to work together on policies and legislation that align with European environmental standards and help municipalities become more sustainable. Cooperation within WM4U is truly teamwork for impact,”
– Toni Clark, Managing Director, Avfall Sverige.

Sweden’s Continued Support and Shared Values

The recent government restructuring, particularly the merger of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources with the Ministry of Economy, opens up new opportunities for an integrated approach to environmental and waste management policy in Ukraine.

Participants underlined that waste management reform is part of a broader process of environmental transformation and European integration. Swedish partners reaffirmed their readiness to continue supporting Ukraine both politically and practically. In turn, Deputy Minister Iryna Ovcharenko emphasised that all previous cooperation agreements remain a priority for the Ministry.

“The Ministry is pleased to continue cooperation, especially on practical aspects of implementing regional waste management plans. We see strong potential in developing biogas facilities and modern sorting equipment, which will help municipalities strengthen infrastructure and ensure sustainable development,”
– Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

Currently, the WM4U Programme works with 47 hromadas in Kharkiv, Poltava, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia oblasts. A key component of its work is strategic collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SwEPA) and the ENSO27 Project, aimed at harmonising Ukrainian legislation with EU standards in the context of Ukraine’s EU accession process. The Programme also partners with the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco) to facilitate financial support for municipal waste infrastructure projects.

“Sweden continues to support Ukraine during this challenging recovery period. The WM4U Programme is an important part of our cooperation, focusing on environmental sustainability, climate security, and European market integration. We see Ukraine as a long-term partner,”
– Erik Pettersson, Programme Manager, Sida.

For WM4U, this new stage marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership with the restructured ministry, working together to achieve shared goals – modernising Ukraine’s waste management system, improving energy efficiency, and advancing the circular economy.

“SALAR International has been working in Ukraine for many years on programmes related to decentralisation, environmental protection, and municipal governance. We are pleased to continue this productive cooperation under WM4U. The Ministry remains one of our key partners, and together we can deliver real change in Ukraine’s waste management system,”
– Ryan Knox, Managing Director, SALAR International.

At the heart of this cooperation remains practical support for hromadas, the development of Swedish-Ukrainian partnerships, and knowledge exchange – helping Ukraine move closer to sustainable European standards in waste management.