“Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” Project: Building a Sustainable Future Despite the War
While Ukraine faces the ongoing challenges of war — including economic hardship and widespread infrastructure destruction — a grassroots initiative is being implemented, even in frontline cities, with the goal of building an environmentally sustainable future.
This initiative is the “Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” project, co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme, coordinated by the Landscape Laboratory (Laboratório da Paisagem) and implemented on the ground by the NGO Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine.
Launched on May 1, 2024, the project will run for four years and brings together Ukrainian and European municipalities, research institutions and civil society organisations to support the transition of participating Ukrainian cities toward sustainable municipal waste management systems and circular economy models. The project focuses primarily on four Ukrainian municipalities: Lutsk, Kherson, Pokrovsk (Donetsk region), and Derhachi (Kharkiv region).
On the ground, Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine works closely with local authorities and NGOs such as Zero Waste Lutsk, Ecological News Kherson, Zero Waste Mariupol, and Zero Waste Kharkiv. These organisations play a key role in raising community awareness, conducting audits, and building strategies tailored to local needs.
European partners significantly strengthen the Ukrainian team and participating municipalities with their experience in waste management. The municipalities of Guimarães and Oeiras (Portugal), and Carmignano (Italy) share practical solutions for reforming waste management systems as well as effective infrastructure and environmental education models.
The project also includes collaboration with research institutions such as the Landscape Laboratory (Portugal) and the Hamburg Institute for Innovation, Climate Protection and Circular Economy (Germany). In addition, experts from Zero Waste Europe and Zero Waste Italy contribute valuable technical support.
Joint efforts today for change tomorrow
International cooperation is essential, as it enables the exchange of best practices in waste management and helps align Ukraine’s system with EU legislation. Reforming waste management is one of the key objectives outlined in Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the European Union, and projects like this accelerate that path in a tangible and effective way.
Overcoming challenges with a common goal
The main goal of the project is to create replicable case studies of effective and sustainable waste management systems in four Ukrainian cities, to serve as examples for others. This involves not only adopting best European practices but also taking into account the current realities of war.
Key actions include:
Capacity building: Empowering Ukrainian municipalities with knowledge of EU waste management systems, enabling them to select the most appropriate solutions for their local context.
Waste prevention: Promoting reuse, repair, and composting, while reducing landfill use and encouraging circular economy practices.
Infrastructure development: Supporting the creation of municipal plans and pilot projects such as community sorting centres, hazardous waste collection points, repair and composting hubs.
Municipalities as a model for the entire country
Despite enormous challenges, the four participating municipalities demonstrate strong determination:
Lutsk is aligning its strategy with European standards, investing in separate waste collection, organic waste composting, and textile waste management.
Kherson, heavily affected by Russian shelling, is focusing on building a comprehensive waste strategy with an emphasis on public health and safety.
Pokrovsk aims to maximise reuse and recycling, safely managing war-related waste and building viable infrastructure.
Derhachi focuses on environmental education, community and home composting, and selective collection — also seeking to generate local jobs in the waste management sector.
The value of the Ukrainian experience for the European Union
The unique challenges faced by Ukrainian cities, especially in conflict zones, offer valuable lessons for other European cities. Ukraine’s experience in developing waste management systems under emergency conditions can inspire resilient solutions in the face of natural or human-made disasters.
Moreover, the focus on public health highlights the importance of ensuring high-quality and environmentally safe waste services, even in adverse situations.
A continuous path to a sustainable future
Through international cooperation and knowledge sharing, the “Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine” project is paving the way for sustainable urban development and a cleaner, healthier environment — in Ukraine and beyond.
This project proves that even in the most difficult circumstances, it is possible to move forward with effective, scalable, and lasting solutions. As coordinating partner, the Landscape Laboratory has also benefited from the practical and adaptive insights of its Ukrainian counterparts, further strengthening the collective capacity to build resilient and context-sensitive waste management systems.
