As part of the Swedish-Ukrainian Programme WM4U – Waste Management for Ukraine, funded by Sida and implemented by Avfall Sverige and SALAR International, 17 municipal representatives from Ukraine visited Sweden from 5-9 May 2025. The study trip offered a unique opportunity to observe Sweden’s collaborative and forward-thinking approach to waste management.

The WM4U programme supports waste management in Ukraine by strengthening local capacity, encouraging cooperation between municipalities, and aligning with EU environmental standards. The visit aimed to deepen municipal partnerships and inspire practical, locally grounded improvements.

Hands-on learning across Sweden

The week began in Malmö with a kick-off event hosted by Avfall Sverige, where participants learned about Sweden’s waste system, WM4U programme progress, and upcoming technical collaborations. Delegates then split into four groups, each visiting one of the Swedish clusters: Gothenburg-Skaraborg, Gävle, Malmö, and Stockholm.

Western cluster: Kremenchuk learns in Gothenburg

The Kremenchuk cluster (Poltava region) visited the Gothenburg Stad and Skaraborg waste management clusters – both models of inter-municipal coordination. Site visits included the Renova incineration plant, which handles 560,000 tonnes of waste annually and supplies a third of Gothenburg’s district heating. Participants also explored recycling centres where a “green card” system enables trained citizens to access facilities during off-hours.

Skaraborg’s smaller centres, such as Skultorp near Skövde, operate only a few days a week but effectively manage three main waste streams: bio, residual, and recyclables. At the Gothenburg landfill site, delegates observed advanced techniques for construction waste recycling and PFAS filtration.

A key feature of the visit was the workshop in Skövde, where Ukrainian and Swedish counterparts compared governance models, discussed challenges in Ukraine’s system, and explored future collaboration. Delegates were also shown local vehicle fleets, observing bin collection systems and route planning in action. 

As Sergii Oleinykov, Director of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Poltava Regional State Administration, noted:

“During the visit, we learned how the waste management system is operating in Sweden. We now understand how challenging the path will be to implement the national strategy in Ukraine. First and foremost, we will focus on revising our Regional Waste Management Plan and proposing legislative initiatives that will enable the implementation of the measures outlined in the Plan.”

Deputy Mayor of Kremenchuk, Volodymyr Pelypenko, added:

“What impressed me most was the attitude of local residents towards recycling and waste processing. These processes are well organised and supported at the level of culture and education. People take waste sorting seriously, and this is actively promoted across all age groups. Such an approach is truly noteworthy and can serve as an example for implementation in my hometown.”

Northern cluster: Lozova explores Gävle

The delegation from Lozova and the wider Kharkiv region – partner of the Swedish Northern Cluster – travelled to Gävle, where they were hosted by Gästrike Återvinnare, a regional waste management association serving five municipalities. 

The programme offered a practical deep dive into Sweden’s decentralised yet integrated approach to waste management. Delegates visited key infrastructure sites, including a modern recycling centre with digital tracking systems, a well-maintained landfill featuring leachate treatment and environmental monitoring, a biogas facility turning organic waste into energy, and a truck maintenance centre serving the regional waste fleet. 

Secretary of the Lozova City Council, Kharkiv Region, Yurii Kushnir, shared:

“My perception of waste management has changed dramatically. The well-structured programme in the city of Gävle allowed us to trace the entire journey of waste – from its generation in a household kitchen, initial sorting, transport and processing, to the final disposal of what remains at the landfill. Sweden’s experience proves that even small communities can unite and build successful waste management systems.”

Workshops during the week addressed financing, communication with residents, digital planning, and behaviour change strategies. A highlight was the meeting with Julia Brozin, Vice Chair of Gävle’s municipal board, who discussed shared political responsibility in regional waste strategies.

Head of the Department for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Andrii Nereta, reflected:

“Sweden’s waste management system can serve as a model for developing the regional waste management plan in the Kharkiv region. The first step towards achieving these ambitious goals will be to collect actual data from communities regarding the morphology and volume of all types of waste generated by the population and businesses of all ownership forms in their territories, as well as information on the availability, condition, and potential use of existing waste management facilities.”

Southern cluster: Ivano-Frankivsk in Malmö

The Ivano-Frankivsk delegation took part in a dynamic and insightful study visit to Malmö and surrounding municipalities as part of the Southern Cluster exchange. One of the highlights was a tour of SYSAV, the municipal company serving 14 municipalities, where participants learned how 96% of collected waste is either recycled into materials (43%) or transformed into energy (53%). The group also visited a state-of-the-art food waste processing plant that turns 65,000 tonnes of waste into biogas and biofertiliser, contributing to Malmö’s impressive district heating and electricity outputs.

Other visits included the Trelleborg recycling centre, Lund’s vacuum waste system in new housing, and Oceanhamnen’s sustainable wastewater plant. In Kristianstad, delegates explored a child-focused recycling centre and Scandinavia’s first dry fermentation biogas facility, now producing over 1.3 million m³ annually.

The Ivano-Frankivsk team left Sweden inspired by practical solutions that combine innovation, education, and community engagement, offering promising directions for waste reform at home.

Head of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration, Andriy Plikhtiak, summarised:

“During our visit to the Southern Cluster, we saw how Sweden achieves nearly zero landfill – with 100% waste collection coverage, 26-stream sorting, and energy recovery from incineration. These insights will guide our future plans in Ivano-Frankivsk, starting with improved source separation, hazardous waste collection, and public education.”

Eastern cluster: Vinnytsia visits Stockholm

Participants from Vinnytsia visited a landfill and recycling centre in Sofielund, waste collection and sorting systems in Norra Djurgårdsstaden and Högdalen, as well as a waste-to-energy plant. They also joined a workshop on fee structures and planning at SÖRAB.

From the start, the trip provided a close-up look at Stockholm’s circular economy. At the SRV Återvinning Sofielund complex, delegates saw how five municipalities work together to manage hazardous waste, generate biogas, run a modern landfill, and promote recycling. The biogas plant stood out, processing organic waste to fuel the very trucks that collect it – a closed-loop system.

The group also toured the new Resursutvinning Stockholm facility, which mechanically separates plastics, metals, and biowaste from mixed waste. The day ended at Stockholm Exergy, one of Europe’s most advanced waste-to-energy plants, supplying heating to over 800,000 residents.

Meetings with SÖRAB and Stockholm Vatten och Avfall highlighted how planning and transparent tariffs drive system success. At Sweden’s top-performing recycling centre, participants saw how design and citizen engagement can significantly cut waste.

 The visit wrapped up at Stockholm City Hall, where Deputy Mayor Anders Östberg reaffirmed the city’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s reform journey.

Impressions and learnings

For Ukraine’s municipal leaders, Sweden provided not just a model to study, but a vision to strive toward. All participants returned not just with technical insights, but with a renewed sense of purpose – seeing how long-term planning, inter-municipal cooperation, and public trust can turn waste management into a driver of resilience and sustainability.

Across all groups, the visit offered deep insights into Sweden’s diverse models of inter-municipal collaboration, the integration of environmental and energy services, and the role of citizen engagement. Delegates were particularly impressed by the balance between state-of-the-art infrastructure and grassroots behaviour change strategies.

Speaking at the final day of the study visit in Stockholm, Programme’s Senior Advisor, Weine Wiqvist, said:
“The visits carried out are a vital component of the entire WM4U programme. We’ve seen great interest and enthusiasm from both the Ukrainian delegates and their Swedish hosts. This marks only the beginning of a long-term exchange aimed at supporting the development of effective waste management in Ukraine, aligned with EU principles.

The most important conclusions and lessons can be summarised as follows: cooperation between municipalities in clusters is a key driver of success. Joint planning, along with investment in public awareness and behaviour change, is essential. For such systems to function well, modern infrastructure is needed – above all, source separation to avoid waste being mixed. Investments in biowaste management and energy recovery emerged as particularly valuable. And finally, long-term, consistent political commitment is required – both at national and local levels.”

Each group returned home with clear insights:

  •  Sweden’s success blends high-tech infrastructure with everyday citizen involvement.
  • Fee transparency and education are critical for public buy-in.
  •  Small stations and big systems both benefit from shared governance and long-term planning.

Next steps and deeper ties

Concrete outcomes are already in motion:

  • Each Ukrainian cluster began drafting a baseline report with its Swedish partner.
  • Joint priorities and technical exchanges are being developed.
  •  WM4U will continue to support capacity building through training, mentoring, and follow-up meetings in 2025.

The study visit marked a key milestone in WM4U’s mission to advance sustainable municipal waste management in Ukraine. It was not just an introduction to Sweden’s waste management system, but a meaningful exchange of values, experience, and vision.

By combining Sweden’s proven systems with Ukraine’s energy for reform, the programme lays the groundwork for resilient, citizen-centred, and EU-aligned waste systems. As Ukraine’s municipalities return with fresh energy and actionable plans, WM4U continues to build the bridge – turning shared learning into sustainable change.