On June 20, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading and as a whole the draft law №2207-1-d “On Waste Management”. 282 people’s deputies voted in favor. This was announced on its website by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
“Ukraine is finally taking the first step towards civilized waste management. We are already 20-30 years behind our European neighbors. In fact, today Ukraine is the only country in Europe where the state has no control over waste, and more than 90% of it is disposed of in the ground. Our goal is to be a full member of the European Union, so we must show the ability to carry out real European reforms, “commented the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strelets.
The adoption of the framework Law on Waste Management provides an opportunity to initiate the changes that Ukraine needs to become a member of the European Union.
The law will allow:
- implement a European waste hierarchy,
- organize planning of the waste management system at the national, regional and local levels,
- close old landfills and bring the remaining ones to European standards.
- create conditions for the construction of modern waste processing infrastructure in Ukraine according to European rules and open borders for investors.
- establish the “polluter pays” principle
- introduce extended producer responsibility when the manufacturer will be obliged to ensure full disposal of the packaging that he has placed on the market together with the goods.
Bill № 2207-1d only establishes a framework of new modern rules for the functioning of the waste management system in Ukraine. Based on it, a number of other necessary sectoral laws will be developed. The ultimate goal is to make waste management more efficient and safer for people and the environment.
Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine
