The power of collaboration: building Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine
Across Ukraine, cities are facing growing challenges in managing household waste, challenges made even more complex by war, economic hardship, and a lack of infrastructure. Yet four municipalities, Lutsk, Kherson, Pokrovsk, and Derhachi, are leading the way toward sustainable, effective solutions through the Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine project, implemented by the NGO Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine, supported by the European Union’s LIFE Programme.
At the heart of this initiative is a clear goal: to co-create four functioning zero waste systems, each rooted in local realities and shaped by European best practices. This transformation isn’t happening in isolation, it’s being driven by the power of collaboration across borders, sectors, and communities.
A strong network of local and international partners
Launched in May 2024, the four-year project is coordinated by the Laboratório da Paisagem de Guimarães in Portugal and implemented in partnership with European municipalities, research institutions, and civil society organisations.
On the European side, cities like Guimarães, Oeiras (Portugal), and Carmignano (Italy) are sharing their practical experience in waste reduction and circular economy. They are joined by the Hamburg Institute for Innovation, Climate Protection and Circular Economy, and key allies such as Zero Waste Europe and Zero Waste Italy.
On the ground in Ukraine, the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine works closely with municipal authorities and local NGOs, including Zero Waste Lutsk, Ecological News Kherson, Zero Waste Mariupol, and Zero Waste Kharkiv. These organisations help build community awareness, conduct audits, and shape strategies that reflect local needs.
“Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine and 2 of our municipalities joined the Zero Waste Cities programme a long time ago, in 2020. And the first thing that was so inspiring for us was the network, the connection to so many wonderful EU municipalities, so many wonderful people and experts, so many wonderful examples and Zero Waste practices that can be analysed and implied in Ukraine, even now, despite Russian armed aggression, despite war. So this is the biggest thing that was given us by Zero Waste Europe apart from inspiration and all the support. As some specific examples, probably Italy, Slovenia and Portugal would be the most inspiring countries for us to take a look at, to see what activities they were implementing and what would be useful and realistic for Ukraine as well”. Sofia Sydorenko, Head of the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine.
Why local collaboration matters
While Ukraine’s national waste reform is guided by its Association Agreement with the EU, lasting change needs to happen locally. Many municipalities lack the technical capacity or knowledge to implement new policies on their own. That’s why the project began with a comprehensive training programme for local governments, representatives of utility companies and other waste management stakeholders, bringing together European and Ukrainian experts in the field of waste management. During half an year, the team had held 16 webinars and several Q&A sessions.
The webinars are structured into five modules:
- Waste management legislation: Ukrainian and European contexts
- Sustainable waste management system: prevention, reduction, reuse and treatment of municipal waste
- Economic instruments and incentives for creating a sustainable waste management system
- Planning, measurement and monitoring for a sustainable waste management system
- Communication strategy, information campaign and environmental education for a sustainable waste management system
All of them are open to any municipality in Ukraine interested in transitioning toward a sustainable, zero waste system, and are available in English and Ukrainian via the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine’s YouTube channel. This collective learning model helps scale success beyond the pilot cities, turning a project into a national movement.
Alongside the training, a study on the morphological composition of municipal solid waste in participating municipalities was launched and is still ongoing. During the project, each city will conduct an in-depth study of its waste system. These assessments will lead to tailored local strategies grounded in the zero waste hierarchy and circular economy principles. On this path, the participating municipalities of the project will be assisted by the ZWAU team, along with relevant experts and European partners.
Each municipality will also receive support to launch a pilot infrastructure project that reflects local needs, ranging from recycling centres to hazardous waste collection units. These practical steps are designed not only to reduce landfill and illegal dumping, but to serve as scalable models for other Ukrainian cities.
Frontline cities leading by example
Pokrovsk, Donetsk Region, Derhachi, Kharkiv Region, and Kherson are all frontline municipalities impacted by ongoing Russian aggression. Despite this, their participation is not only possible, it’s essential. These cities show extraordinary commitment to maintaining and improving services under the harshest conditions.
By documenting and sharing their journeys, these cities can inspire others facing similar obstacles. Their inclusion also strengthens their case for future investment and international support, including EU funding for rebuilding waste management infrastructure.
From certification to systemic change
The momentum extends beyond these four cities. In 2024, two Ukrainian cities, Khmelnytskyi and Lutsk, joined the Zero Waste Cities Certification programme by Mission Zero Academy (MiZA).
Khmelnytskyi, supported by local enterprise Spetskomuntrans, now operates centres where residents can reuse or recycle a wide range of materials, from clothes to construction debris. Initiatives like the Ecobus and Gufi-Center are already helping to shift public behaviour. Lutsk is committed to reducing waste, cutting carbon emissions, and creating green jobs. The city’s waste management efforts are showcased on Urban Vision Lutsk.
“The Zero Waste Cities Certification programme is a good opportunity for Ukrainian communities to transform their waste management system, taking into account the best practices that have been successfully implemented in EU countries. Khmelnytskyi has been actively working on implementing new solutions in waste management in recent years, and joining the program is a challenge that will allow them to move towards a zero waste life in the community.” Svitlana Karytun, Zero Waste Cities Programme in Ukraine Coordinator at Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine.
A path forward, together
Despite the ongoing war and systemic challenges, Ukraine is moving forward with its waste reform. Thanks to the collective efforts of cities, NGOs, EU partners, and local communities, we are building a resilient and effective waste management future, one city at a time.
This project is a testament to the power of collaboration: between countries, institutions, and most importantly, people.
“It’s incredibly inspiring to see the appetite to work on zero waste locally in Ukraine despite the ongoing war caused by Russian aggression, which has been really spearheaded by the great work done by the Alliance and its members across the country. This project is a key milestone to help formalise what a zero waste city should, and can, look like in Ukraine. It builds on both the existing good measures within Ukraine and also taps into the wider pool of expertise and best practices from across all of Europe. ZWE is proud and humbled to play a small role in helping Ukrainian communities transition to zero waste during these times, and we hope to be able to work with more Zero Waste Cities across the country in the coming years.” Jack McQuibban, Head of Local Implementation, Zero Waste Europe
The project is co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the funding body can be held responsible for them.
