Mykolaiv region ranked first in terms of toxic waste in the south, Odesa region - second

In 2024, Mykolaiv region became the anti-leader in the South of Ukraine in terms of hazardous waste generation, ahead of Odesa and Kherson regions. The region is in the critical zone of environmental risk due to the active operation of industrial and agricultural enterprises.

This is evidenced by the research data of the YouControl analytical system.

In 2024, enterprises in the Mykolaiv region generated almost 29 thousand tons of hazardous waste, which puts the region in the red zone in terms of toxic load. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, 312 reports on hazardous waste generation in the region were submitted.

In total, in 2024, legal entities in Ukraine generated more than 592 thousand tons of hazardous substances. Most of them are generated in the non-metallic industry, as well as in medical and agricultural institutions. Among the leaders in terms of volumes are Zaporizhzhia region (184 thousand tons), Kyiv (61 thousand tons) and Dnipro region (52 thousand tons).

Screenshot: YouControl

Mykolaiv region is among the areas with critically high levels of toxic waste generation. This may be due to the active operation of industrial, agricultural, and construction companies operating even in times of war. At the same time, the map shows significant contrasts with neighboring regions.

For example, Odesa region recorded 3,787 tons of hazardous waste, six times less than in Mykolaiv region. In Kherson region, the figure is only 11 tons, but this indicator is not an indicator of environmental safety: the war, the occupation of part of the territory, and problems with reporting significantly affect the actual data.

The non-metallic industry is the undisputed leader in terms of hazardous waste, generating over 201 thousand tons (34% of the total). This includes sand, gravel, clay, and mineral processing quarries, whose waste contains heavy metals and reagents that pollute soil and air.

Medical facilities are in second place with 80.7 thousand tons of waste. The pandemic and war have significantly increased this figure. Medical waste - infectious materials, medicines, ampoules, and biological residues - requires special treatment and creates a toxic burden on the environment.

The agricultural sector is the third with 65.4 thousand tons of hazardous waste. The sources are pesticides, herbicides, veterinary drugs, and livestock waste. Despite its natural image, the agricultural sector is a significant source of chemical pollution, often out of control.

The war waged by Russia against Ukraine has caused a large-scale environmental catastrophe - environmental pollution, ecosystem destruction, and loss of biodiversity both in Ukraine and abroad. The damage to Ukrainian nature is already estimated at $65 billion.

Анна Бальчінос