Garbage and corruption: who is responsible for Odesa's environmental threats

The 2016 fire at the Hrybovychi landfill in Lviv, which resulted in human casualties and a large-scale waste crisis, served as a warning to other Ukrainian cities. Odesa is currently in a similar situation.

This is stated in the material of the Center for Public Investigations.

The main landfill where the city's solid waste is stored is at the end of its life. "The Dalnytsia quarries have been in operation since 1968 and have long failed to meet modern environmental standards. According to Vladyslav Mykhailenko, PhD in ecology, the landfill has no impervious layer to protect soil and water from toxic substances, and there is no protection against stormwater runoff.

Dalnytsia quarries. Photo: CPR

The site, which covers an area of almost 100 hectares, was used not only for waste from Odesa but also from other cities in the region. Despite the decision of the executive committee of the city council to transfer the landfill to the management of a municipal enterprise, no real changes have taken place.

For 25 years, the landfill was managed by the Soyuz company, owned by former MP Ihor Markov. After fleeing to Russia in 2014, Markov continued to control the business through his associates. In particular, until 2019, the company's ownership structure included his associates.

In 2022, the company changed its name to Clear City and joined the Clear Energy group, which is engaged in biomass energy projects and landfill degassing. However, Yuriy Kryvenko, who is close to Markov, is still the director of the company.

According to investigators of the Center for Public Investigations, Soyuz received budget contracts worth about UAH 290 million without paying rent for the use of the landfill.

Experts emphasize that the lack of a modern waste processing plant in Odesa poses a threat to the environment and the health of residents. The Dalnytsia quarries have long been unable to cope with the load, and toxic substances are leaking into the soil and water.

Despite the local authorities' statements about plans to build a waste processing plant, no concrete steps have been taken so far. Litigation between the city and Clear City is ongoing, and the problem of garbage is only getting worse.

Environmentalists and activists are calling for immediate action, as without a real solution, the situation could lead to a large-scale environmental disaster in the region.

Ірина Глухова