In addition to creating a severe humanitarian and economic disaster, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has created a hitherto unheard-of waste management difficulty. Thousands of structures have been destroyed by the fighting, reducing cities to fields of ruin. The rubble has been referred to as “destruction waste” by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 75,000 cubic meters of this trash have accumulated in Bucha, a city in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, and its management could take decades.
In a new report published on June 11, 2024, the UNDP, working with local government and the European Union (EU), outlines a plan of action to address this problem. Since Ukraine had never experienced such a level of devastation, Roman Shakhmatenko, the UNDP team leader for the Environment Portfolio, stressed that the country lacked the infrastructure necessary to manage such debris. “Initially, the devastation was not resolved here; instead, the villages had to be cleared as quickly as possible to allow people to start returning. We have a huge problem in the Kyiv region right now; hundreds of residences have been damaged, according to Shakhmatenko.
The UNDP and the EU have provided vital equipment, like mobile crushers and excavators, to address the waste management crisis. Furthermore, they have trained staff members. The waste treatment facility has been given a four-acre block of land by the Bucha city administration. An essential part of the operation is the mobile crusher, which recycles waste for use in other applications. Shakhmatenko pointed out that the crusher could handle 80 cubic meters of waste an hour, which is the same as five huge trucks an hour, therefore it should be enough to meet the needs of the area.
There are multiple steps in the waste processing. The first step, according to Buchaservice utility business CEO Serhi Mostipaka, involved removing debris and classifying things like as glass, plastic, and wood. The majority of the company’s equipment was nearly destroyed in the conflict. After processing, the garbage is moved to another place where the crusher breaks it down into smaller pieces. With the exception of garbage containing asbestos, which cannot be recycled and needs to be treated carefully, this almost waste-free procedure guarantees that the sorted and processed materials can be reused.
Per international guidelines, a specialized laboratory is being set up on the premises to find asbestos in the trash and the air. Per UNDP-developed guidelines, asbestos must be packed and kept in approved locations for a temporary period until suitable disposal facilities are available.
The UNDP is launching its first project of this kind in the war-torn district of Bucha, with ambitions to expand such initiatives to neighboring areas like Chernihiv and Kharkiv. Given the ongoing accumulation of waste, the initiative intends to solve longer-term recycling challenges in addition to the current situation. Anatoly Feduruk, the mayor of Bucha, reported that more than 4,000 structures—including high-rises—had sustained damage in the city alone. It is always necessary to recycle building waste, such as brick and concrete, even in times of calm.
Shakhmatenko agreed that the local government played a crucial role in handling this situation. He emphasized that utility companies and municipal governments completed 60% of the work, with support from UNDP. Local bodies’ participation and leadership are crucial to the success of such projects.
Working together, the UNDP, the EU, and the Bucha local government are taking a significant step toward solving the enormous waste management problem caused by the war. With the use of creative ideas and encouraging local involvement, this project seeks to reconstruct Ukraine’s war-torn cities while guaranteeing a robust and sustainable recovery process.