On 14 November, Kyiv hosted a public dialogue titled “Current State and Prospects for Implementing Waste Management Reform in Ukraine”, organised within the GIZ project “Environmental Protection Worldwide”. The event brought together representatives of central government bodies, local self-government, civil society, businesses, academic institutions and international programmes working jointly on modernising the national waste management system.
The discussion featured specialists from the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Energy, key civil society organisations, territorial communities, as well as international experts and partners.
The first panel focused on the strategic aspects of implementing the reform. Participants discussed the status and progress of developing and updating regional and local waste management plans, the role of tariff policy in creating sustainable services, and the need for an effective regulatory environment.
Among the key topics raised were:
- legislative barriers and the importance of introducing a dedicated “administrator” institution for implementing the reform;
- expectations regarding the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law;
- the government’s role in driving systemic changes;
- opportunities for using waste as alternative fuel;
- challenges related to regulatory instability (landfill tax, licensing, permit duration);
- updating waste management plans — from waste morphology to tariffs;
- business and international partners’ involvement in developing infrastructure;
- challenges posed by green waste and debris from destruction.
Participants shared practical cases of composting, sorting and public-private partnerships, illustrating effective local solutions.
The second panel focused on regional practices and cooperation among territorial communities in Poltava oblast. Regional representatives presented:
- experience of inter-municipal cooperation in waste management;
- communication approaches and the branding of the municipal enterprise “Ekoservice-2022”;
- results of a study on managing debris from destruction;
- new methodological tools and guides for communities.
These examples demonstrated that inter-municipal cooperation is one of the most effective mechanisms for developing modern waste management infrastructure and addressing resource limitations.
WM4U programme’s participation: expertise that drives systemic change
The WM4U Programme was represented by Oleksandr Ihnatenko, National Waste Management Expert. For WM4U, such events are particularly important, as the Programme currently works across key areas of the reform, including:
- development of regional waste management plans for Vinnytsia and Kharkiv oblasts;
- supporting the Ministry for Communities and the Ministry of Economy in improving the legislative framework;
- implementing measures to enhance municipal waste management services in four pilot clusters — in Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Poltava and Kharkiv oblasts;
- strengthening inter-municipal cooperation and creating conditions for investment in the sector.
During the discussion, Oleksandr Ihnatenko emphasised:
“It is crucial for us to work together with the state, communities and businesses, because waste management reform cannot be implemented in fragments. It is a comprehensive transformation — from legislative changes and planning to infrastructure solutions and day-to-day operations on the ground. A modern waste management system must provide Ukrainians with high-quality services and comply with European standards. That is why, within WM4U, we focus on practical solutions that communities can implement today, while simultaneously working on systemic changes that will shape the sector for decades to come.”
The public dialogue confirmed that successful waste management reform in Ukraine requires continuous interaction among all stakeholders, coordinated decisions and a long-term vision. The WM4U Programme will continue to play a key role in developing strategic documents, strengthening the institutional capacity of communities and building resilient waste management infrastructure.