From 29 July to 1 August, experts from the WM4U Programme visited the northern communities of the Ivano-Frankivsk waste management cluster. The focus was on eight communities: Rohatyn, Burshtyn, Halych, Bilshivtsi, Voynyliv, Bukachivtsi, Yezupil, and Dubivtsi. These territories were the first in Ivano-Frankivsk region where the Programme team began a detailed assessment of household waste management services following initial familiarisation visits in June.
“We saw both systematic approaches and many local solutions that are already delivering results. This proves that even under challenging conditions, communities are ready for change if they have support and the right tools,” said Oleksandr Ihnatenko, National waste management expert at WM4U.
During the visit, experts met with community heads and local businesses, and visited active landfills and operational bases. Special attention was given to service quality, legal frameworks, communication with residents, and technical capacity – from waste containers to collection trucks.
Despite numerous challenges, the communities have already developed successful practices worth sharing, such as:
- expanding rural coverage through bag-based waste collection;
- using shredders for green waste as a fuel source;
- engaging local NGOs as single waste management service contractors, responsible for fee collection and payment to competitively selected providers;
- self-manufacturing waste containers, reducing costs threefold;
- actively involving schoolchildren in separate waste collection;
- engaging a priest (chaplain) to organise separate waste collection near churches and raise public awareness during sermons, which improves the quality of recyclable waste sorting;
- establishing municipal guards from former police officers to oversee public order and inform residents about signing waste management service contracts;
- involving the elders in public space monitoring.
“What impressed me most was seeing a community chaplain become a driving force for change in waste management. This is a unique example of how social authority can influence environmental behaviour,” shared Iryna Myronova, WM4U Regional coordinator.
At the same time, experts noted a number of systemic barriers: insufficient funding, a lack of equipment, weak public order enforcement, and the absence of effective communication campaigns.
The next step will be preparing analytical conclusions and tailored recommendations for each community, enabling targeted support under the Programme.