20:03 08.10.2024

Sweden to help Ukraine reform waste management system under European standards

3 min read
Sweden to help Ukraine reform waste management system under European standards

The Swedish government has launched a new technical assistance project for Ukraine titled "Strengthening of Municipal Waste Management in Ukraine2024-2027," the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine said.

"Sweden's assistance is crucial for Ukraine, especially now, in the conditions of war, when we are fighting for our future. This future also includes a clean environment and environmental safety. Among our priorities is to strengthen and develop national policy in these matters. Sweden's experience and expertise in waste management are difficult to overestimate and they are truly valuable for our country on the way to the EU and the practical results of the reform that has started," Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynchuk said on the website on Tuesday.

She discussed the key areas of cooperation within the project with representatives of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Ukraine, the Swedish Waste Management Association Avfall Sverige, an organization that deals with local government and represents Swedish municipalities Salar International, as well as the project team.

As reported, "Strengthening of Municipal Waste Management in Ukraine2024-2027" is a multi-year comprehensive international technical assistance program that will be implemented by Avfall Sverige and Salar International.

"The program was created by the Government of Sweden as a result of the agreements reached during the working visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Sweden two years ago. Swedish experts analyzed the waste situation in Ukraine and identified areas of cooperation. And in July of this year, the program was approved by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SIDA," the minister said.

It is noted that the program will consist of ten components implemented at the national and regional levels. Among them, for example: new approaches to tariff formation in the field of waste management, as well as the introduction of the "polluter pays" principle in Ukraine; waste management planning according to European standards. In particular, assistance to regions in developing regional and local plans.

According to Hrynchuk, the interest of investors in working in Ukraine will depend on the quality of the development of such plans. "We must have detailed, high-quality regional and local waste management plans. They will become the proposal for which we can find investors," the minister said.

Among the components that the project will work on: processing of biological waste. Preparation of guidelines taking into account the experience of European countries; introduction of extended manufacturer responsibility in Ukraine; introduction of a systematic approach to reducing the volume of gases generated at landfills. According to expert estimates, 4-5% of the world's gas volumes are generated at Ukrainian landfills. This figure can be halved if the appropriate equipment is installed at 400-500 of the largest Ukrainian landfills; organization of assistance through certain equipment from Swedish municipalities to Ukrainian ones, with the possibility of attracting other European countries, etc. The program also plans to implement four pilot projects on the ground using the cluster principle, establish a dialogue and exchange of experience between Ukrainian and Swedish municipalities, and prepare relevant investment cases.

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