News and Statements
Workshop on the Development of a Separate Packaging Waste Collection System
Held in Makariv within the EcoHromada Pilot Project
On 29 December, UKRPEC held a workshop in the settlement of Makariv, Kyiv Region,
dedicated to the development of a separate packaging waste collection system. The event
served as a platform for developing a shared vision and exchanging experience among the
local self-government authority, businesses operating within the community, active residents,
and the Ukrainian Packaging and Environmental Coalition (UKRPEC). Acting on behalf of
responsible businesses, UKRPEC finances the separate packaging waste collection system
in Makariv.
The separate packaging waste collection system in Makariv has been operating for several
years, and the community has gained its own practical experience in its implementation.
Previously, the system functioned with the support of Nestlé and Veolia, in cooperation with
the Makariv Settlement Council, as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes.
After the completion of that project, the community entered a new phase in the development
of the system.
Currently, the separate packaging waste collection system in Makariv continues to operate
under the management of the Ukrainian Packaging and Environmental Coalition and is
financed by UKRPEC in close cooperation with the Makariv Settlement Council.
“I call on members of the council, employees of the settlement council, heads of
enterprises and institutions, and community residents to approach separate waste
collection responsibly. This is a requirement of the law, a matter of our community’s
reputation, another step toward recovery after the destruction caused by the war, and
progress toward European integration – the strategic course of our state. It is about
protecting the environment and, ultimately, about civilized and responsible
behaviour”, said Vadym Tokar, Head of the Makariv Settlement Council.
Volodymyr Slabyi, Head of the UKRPEC Executive Committee, spoke about the economic
benefits of the system for the community. According to him, separate waste collection will
enable the community to save on waste management costs. He also emphasized that the
success of the separate collection system directly depends on the active participation of
community residents.
“We will assist the community in motivating residents to practice separate waste
collection, and we count on coordinating efforts with the local self-government, civic
activists, the youth council – essentially with everyone who cares about the future of
Makariv,” emphasized Volodymyr Slabyi.
UKRPEC has provided the community with the necessary number of containers for
packaging waste, organized their collection, sorting, and recycling. Separately collected
packaging waste is processed at Ukrainian enterprises: glass is recycled at the Hostomel
Glass Plant, paper at a facility in Obukhiv, and plastic and metal waste at other specialized
enterprises.
The revenue from secondary raw materials covers only a small portion of the costs, so the
project is funded by UKRPEC member companies. Businesses assume these expenses for
two key reasons: first, out of a sense of responsibility to support communities affected by
occupation and hostilities; and second, to gain practical experience in implementing
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which will become a mandatory legal requirement
in the future. At the same time, local self-government authorities also have their share of
responsibility, as the current Law of Ukraine “On Waste Management” requires them to
ensure that targeted recycling rates for municipal waste reach at least 10% by 2025.
“The implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model is
envisaged by Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the EU and will gradually
become a mandatory standard. Our goal is to unite the efforts of communities and
businesses and to develop effective solutions in waste management. The
EcoHromada pilot project, which has been operating for eight years in Vyshhorod,
and since 2023 in Bucha, Irpin, Vorzel, Hostomel, and now in Makariv, provides
valuable experience for the entire country. I thank the community and the settlement
head for understanding the importance of this work and for their willingness to be part
of the change,” — concluded Volodymyr Slabyi, Head of the UKRPEC Executive
Committee.
As a result of the first months of operation of the separate waste collection system in
Makariv (June–November), 44 tons of packaging waste were sent for recycling.