On 9 October, Kyiv hosted the annual conference of the Swedish-Ukrainian “Waste Management for Ukraine” (WM4U) programme, summarising its first year of implementation. The event brought together around 150 participants, including representatives from government institutions, international organisations, partner communities, experts, and donor agencies. The conference served not only as an opportunity to report on achievements but also as a platform for dialogue on the European future of Ukraine’s waste management sector, inter-municipal cooperation, and environmental sustainability.
Opening remarks: a shared vision for change
At the opening of the conference, representatives of Ukrainian authorities and international partners highlighted the importance of systemic collaboration in waste management reform. Vitalii Surai, Director of the Department of Life Support Systems at the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, noted that Ukraine is gradually transitioning from fragmented solutions to a comprehensive approach based on strategic planning and integrated municipal waste management models.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Iryna Ovcharenko, emphasised the need to align Ukrainian standards with European ones and highlighted WM4U’s role as a catalyst for change in waste management and environmental protection.
Oleh Bondarenko, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy, stressed that waste management reform is part of a broader environmental transformation in the country, and that the parliament is ready to support regulatory changes to ensure system sustainability.
On behalf of the Swedish government, Johanna Jonsson, Adviser at the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, praised the cooperation with project stakeholders and noted WM4U’s practical focus.
In his welcome address, Tony Clark, CEO of Avfall Sverige, said:
“The theme of this conference, Partnership through action, perfectly reflects the essence of our joint work. Over the past year, we have seen how cooperation between countries and institutions turns plans into tangible results. WM4U was established to strengthen Ukraine’s municipal waste management system, and in just one year we are already seeing capacity development and new approaches to work. This programme is not just about waste – it is about sustainability, about communities and citizens who, despite the war, invest their time and resources into a more sustainable future.”
Ryan Knox, CEO of SALAR International, noted that the programme exemplifies effective international partnership built on trust, technical exchange, and a shared vision of Ukraine’s European path:
“It is encouraging to see that solid partnerships have been established at all governmental levels. This alignment between national policy, regional planning, and local implementation is exactly what ensures sustainability – and mirrors the Swedish model of multilevel governance. As WM4U moves fully into its implementation phase, our shared task is to combine Swedish and Ukrainian expertise – linking governance with technology – to ensure that municipalities remain at the heart of Ukraine’s European path.”
Session 1: a year of WM4U progress
The first thematic session summarised the first year of WM4U implementation and outlined strategic priorities for its continued work. Discussions focused on Ukraine’s waste management system vision for 2040, including achieving high recycling rates, expanding separate collection, developing biogas technologies, implementing extended producer responsibility systems, and reducing landfill disposal.
The session presented the programme’s structure and implementation logic, key achievements in its first year – inter-municipal cooperation, preparation of regional plans, studies on tariffs and landfill gas, as well as practical steps in donor support and training. Participants emphasised the need to enhance human resource capacity, coordinate between authorities and communities, and ensure the financial sustainability of the system.
Key highlights included:
Weine Wiqvist, Senior Adviser at WM4U:
“The National Waste Management Plan, effective from December 2023, sets ambitious targets through 2033. Looking further to 2040, Ukraine has the opportunity for even deeper transformation. By 2040, Ukraine could reach a circularity level close to EU standards, recycling 50–60% of municipal waste and fostering a culture of reduction, reuse, and sorting. Under such conditions, Ukraine could achieve near-zero landfill disposal and build a truly circular economy – turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.”
Andrik Mols, Technical Programme Manager:
“The first year of WM4U marked a strong start for systemic change in Ukraine’s waste management. From the programme’s launch in October 2024 to today, the team, together with Ukrainian and Swedish partners, has moved from establishing cooperation to achieving the first practical results. Memoranda were signed with partner communities, six waves of donor assistance including equipment and containers were delivered, training visits to Sweden were conducted, and Swedish experts visited Ukraine. In parallel, new regional waste management plans, landfill studies, tariff analyses, and waste-to-energy research are underway. This joint work is based on solidarity, mutual trust, and a desire for change. WM4U is not just a programme – it is a tangible step toward sustainable development, a cleaner environment, and Ukraine’s European future.”
Session 2: European integration as a driving force
The second session focused on the link between waste management reform and Ukraine’s alignment with EU standards. Discussions addressed the European agenda, the significance of the European Integration Agreement, and the role of Chapter 27 covering environment and climate change. Participants emphasised that alignment with European environmental standards is both a legal and value-driven requirement, and that building a systemic waste management vision involves investment, technology, and human resource development.
The session also considered experiences from other countries supporting European integration, highlighting the importance of combining national regulation with local solutions. Participants stressed the need to balance legislative requirements, technological capacity, and practical application at the local level to ensure effective adaptation of Ukraine’s waste management system to European standards.
Session 3: inter-municipal cooperation – the power of partnership
The third session highlighted inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) as a key area of waste management reform. The experience of Swedish municipalities was presented, showing how collaborative management structures and stable financial models can be created. The session also explored how Ukraine’s legal framework can support similar initiatives.
Oleksandr Ihnatenko, National Expert at WM4U, said:
“Inter-municipal cooperation can become a real driver of change, allowing communities to pool resources and deliver services more efficiently.”
Participants shared examples of IMC in pilot clusters, emphasising the benefits of community partnerships, including cost optimisation, grant acquisition, and innovation implementation, demonstrating that resource pooling and coordinated action are crucial for the sustainable development of local waste management systems.
Session 4: donor support and the potential to reduce landfill gas
The final session addressed the role of international support in developing the waste management system and reducing landfill gas. It highlighted effective partnerships between donors and recipient communities, as well as examples of integrating Swedish equipment into local waste management systems, including in the Lozova community, Kharkiv region.
Technical aspects of landfill gas management, programme outcomes, and investment proposals aimed at reducing methane emissions and improving climate indicators were also discussed, demonstrating how donor support and technological solutions contribute to sector sustainability.
Concluding remarks
At the close of the conference, WM4U regional planning specialists Marina Sadkina and Iryna Myronova summarised the results, emphasizing that partnerships between government institutions, communities, and international organizations are key to real progress.
In her closing remarks, WM4U Team Leader in Ukraine Olga Glazunova stressed that in its first year, WM4U has become more than a technical support programme – it is a platform for collaboration that fosters a new culture of waste management: transparent, environmentally focused, and people-centered:
“WM4U is not just a technical programme. It is a community that brings together those who believe in sustainable change, a future without waste, and partnership as the main driver of development.”
WM4U continues its work, with the main task for the next phase being to transform developed solutions into sustainable systemic practices for waste management across Ukraine.