On May 29, 2025, a public discussion was held on the Waste Management Concept for the Novobilouska Rural Territorial Hromada in the Chernihiv region.
The document was developed by the Ukraine Support Team (UST) in cooperation with the NGO ReThink, with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.

Participants in the discussion included representatives of the Novobilouska, Kyselivska, and Kyinska hromadas, the Chernihiv Regional State Administration and District Administration, the municipal utility ATP 2528, and Chernihiv Polytechnic.
The event marked an important step toward establishing intermunicipal cooperation in the field of waste management.

“We didn’t just help the hromada comply with the new legal requirements — we gave them a tool for planning and systemic change,” emphasized Olena Koltyk, head of the UST coalition.
“This Concept is the first step toward environmentally responsible local waste management. It provides the community with clear guidance: what infrastructure is needed, what resources are required, and how to build a system that meets real needs.”

During the discussion, Dmytro Fedorov, Head of the Novobilouska Hromada, stated:
“For our community, addressing the issue of waste management is highly relevant and important. Within the framework of the new waste management reform, working with experts helped us structure our understanding and see how planning is carried out according to the new standards — this was extremely valuable. We hope to establish intermunicipal cooperation with neighboring communities to tackle waste-related challenges together.”

Reform Context: Planning Instead of Chaos
The Concept was developed in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Waste Management”, which came into force in July 2023.
The law introduced a new planning hierarchy encompassing the national, regional, and local levels.

In December 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the National Waste Management Plan, and within a year, each oblast must adopt its own regional plan. After that, it will be the turn of the hromadas, as the implementation of reforms takes place primarily at the local level.

The Concept for Novobilouska Hromada is designed to help the community transition from reactive responses to strategic waste management.
The document includes an analysis of the current situation, a forecast of waste generation for the coming years, and tailored recommendations aligned with the draft Regional Waste Management Plan for Chernihiv Oblast through 2030

“The biggest challenge was the lack of complete statistical data in the community,” said Ihor Satin, the scientific lead of the development team.
“However, thanks to the openness and engagement of the community, we were able to build a realistic model and provide concrete, actionable recommendations.”

The Concept will serve as the foundation for the future development of a Local Waste Management Plan (LWMP). This will enable the community to:

• build well-justified waste management infrastructure;
• plan resources and attract investment;
• collaborate with neighboring hromadas to reduce costs and apply modern technologies.

The document lays the groundwork for real change: less landfilling — more recycling, greater efficiency — less environmental harm.


The project was implemented with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.