Managing Demolition Waste in Kherson: Environmental Solutions During War

From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, Kherson region has been suffering from shelling. The enemy continues to hit residential and critical infrastructure in the region, leaving ruins. According to the latest local estimates, there are more than 184 thousand tons of rubble in the region. Its volume is growing every day, and it is becoming a real environmental challenge. Read more about the dangers of such waste and examples of effective solutions already being implemented in the region in the article by Intent.

Demolition waste: what is it and what is its danger

According to environmentalists, the problem of managing demolition waste has existed before, for example, from buildings destroyed by time. However, it was only when the war broke out that it was given proper attention. Due to constant shelling, the scale is growing, which requires a comprehensive approach. It's not just the increase in volumes, but also the danger they pose. After all, these wastes combine several fractions at the same time, and they are not without danger.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine says: "The main problem is the presence of hazardous substances such as asbestos, heavy metals and chemical compounds in the demolition waste. Asbestos, which was widely used in construction, is a carcinogenic material, and its microscopic fibers can cause serious illnesses."

In addition, such waste may contain remnants of shells and explosives. That is why they need to be properly disassembled, sorted and determined by the possibility of their further processing by each component. This will not only reduce the immediate risks to the environment and human health, but also turn them into a valuable resource.

Photo: Kherson Oblast State Emergency Service

Destruction waste in Kherson region

During the period of full-scale invasion in the de-occupied territory of Kherson region, according to the latest data from the Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Kherson Regional State Administration, more than 184 thousand tons of demolition waste have already been accumulated at temporary storage sites.

"Currently, 65 temporary storage sites for such waste have been identified in the de-occupied territory of the region, 40 of which are in operation. Within a certain period of time after the end of martial law, these sites, along with the accumulated waste, will be brought into compliance. That is, according to the current legislation, demolition waste is subject to sorting and treatment for possible reuse (recycling) or disposal in a manner that does not pose a threat to human health and the environment," said Hryhoriy Bazenko, Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Kherson Regional State Administration, Head of the Permitting Department.

Given the difficult current situation in the region and the regional center, local authorities, in cooperation with central and international partners, continue to search for effective solutions. In particular, in connection with the recent approval of the new National Waste Management Plan until 2033, the Kherson Regional State Administration is finalizing a draft regional plan, which includes a strategy for the proper management of waste from destruction in the Kherson region, including the temporarily occupied territory.

First eco-solutions in frontline conditions

Kherson has become one of the largest centers of destruction waste generation in the de-occupied part of the region. The regional center is under enemy fire on a daily basis, so significant amounts of waste have accumulated here during the war. In 2024, the amount of waste from the destruction is almost 4 thousand tons. A site at the Ecopolis landfill of the Kherson City Council has been designated as a temporary storage site.

Sergiy Melashych. Photo: Serhiy Melashych/Facebook

Director of the company Serhii Melashych says: "Ecopolis was allocated a land plot for the temporary storage of waste from the destruction, which was demined and brought into compliance with the law. Currently, we have a large pile of waste generated as a result of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam blowing up, military operations and shelling. The amount is growing every day, so we realize that we need to act now. Therefore, together with the city authorities and international partners, we are developing working solutions."

Thanks to the fact that the Kherson community is included in the Emergency Recovery and Reconstruction Project, the regional center has the support of Japanese partners. In particular, as part of the cooperation, in the fall of 2024, Ecopolis received the latest equipment for processing demolition waste.

Photo: Ecopolis/Facebook

"This equipment will significantly accelerate the process of eliminating the consequences of the destruction caused by the military aggression of the Russian Federation. This is also an environmental solution, because thanks to the equipment that can sort this waste into fractions, we will be able to turn the waste of destruction into valuable raw materials, preparing it for reuse for various purposes. This is an example for the reconstruction of the region's roads," says Serhiy Melashych.

A special site with video surveillance and fencing has already been prepared for the equipment. And the staff of the utility company has undergone special training to work with the crushers. However, due to the security situation and the high cost of the equipment, it will be stored in another city until the optimal conditions are reached.

In the meantime, Mr. Sergiy notes, they will work to solve the problem with asbestos-containing components of the demolition waste: "Asbestos-containing waste remains one of the biggest challenges in managing the destruction waste. There are a lot of slate roof fragments and pipes. We have already discussed this issue with our partners from Japan, who promised to provide special bags for the safe storage of such demolition waste. Later, we are likely to make special concrete wells for this purpose, as in the country of our partners."

For large-sized demolition waste and more, Japan donated dynamic scales to Ecopolis so that the company's employees could keep correct weight records. They have already been installed in accordance with all the rules.

Kherson is on the way to becoming a Zero Waste City

In addition to solving the above problems, despite the realities of the frontline city, Kherson cares about implementing proper waste management in general, which is the path to environmental safety.

In May last year, the regional center became one of the beneficiaries of the Zero Waste Cities in Ukraine project, funded by the European Union's LIFE program and implemented by the Ukrainian Zero Waste Alliance. The aim of the project is to support local governments in implementing new legislative requirements in the field of waste management.

Now, for 4 years, Kherson will work with European partners to build a sustainable waste management system in the community. The city will be assisted by the NGO Ecological News. Over the past period, there have already been some developments.

Olga Mashkova. Photo: Olga Mashkova/Facebook

"A lot has already been done. In particular, we have collected basic analytical information. We have assessed the current state of waste management in the Kherson city territorial community. In addition, we conducted a morphological analysis of household waste at the Ecopolis landfill for two seasons. We already have a report for the fall. Soon, the information will be freely available. Together with the Ecopolis team, we have also undergone appropriate training to strengthen our institutional capacity. The next two seasons will be spent studying the morphology of household waste," says Olha Mashkova, head of the Ecological News NGO and member of the Board of the Ukrainian Zero Waste Alliance.

The next tasks include drawing up a community waste management strategy based on the Zero Waste principles, identifying and implementing a pilot project, and working directly with the local population. Last summer, the company received the necessary KVEDs, which officially allow it to collect and recycle waste. So now Ecopolis employees collect and hand over plastic for recycling. This helps to reduce the amount of waste at the landfill and maintain the environmental sustainability of the regional center. They promise not to stop there.

Анна Шаповал