In Mykolaiv, amid an investigation into garbage issues, a proposal for a new operator was pushed through

On October 28 in Mykolaiv, the city council is scheduled to consider the appointment of LNK Recycling LLC as the waste sorting operator and new rules for the complex’s operation. The draft resolutions were put forward amid investigations into possible abuses during the bidding process and a suspected waste sorting scheme.

The Center for Public Investigations examined how the bidding process was organized in Mykolaiv, what decisions the city authorities made, and what criminal proceedings were related to the implementation of this project. 

One of the draft resolutions provides for granting “LNK Recycling” LLC the status of a waste sorting entity in the city. The basis for this was the tender committee’s protocol dated October 9, 2026. However, the document did not specify the cost of future services, the amount of investment, or the exact location of the facility. 

The second draft resolution concerns new rules for the complex’s operation. It is proposed that the operator bear the costs of its operations. 

Back in January 2025, the Supreme Court ordered the city council to build a waste sorting station.

The tender process was marred by controversy. In late August 2025, police opened a criminal investigation into possible misconduct by city council officials during the tender. In September, law enforcement conducted searches at city hall and seized documents related to the project. City council members also rejected a contract with Waste to Energy Niko LLC, which was to build the sorting plant in the city.  

In July 2026, city council members refused to enter into a contract with LNK Recycling LLC. The company received zero points across all three criteria because it failed to provide evidence of the necessary equipment, technical staff, and experience in waste management. 

In August, city council members also rejected a draft resolution to hold a competitive bidding process for household waste sorting services. Councilmember Fedir Panchenko warned of potential multi-million costs for the city, while First Deputy Director of the Housing and Utilities Department Ihor Nabatov called waste sorting necessary for the landfill to continue operating. 

As reported by Intent, an investigation is also underway in Mykolaiv into the illegal transport of waste to agricultural land for sorting and the sale of recyclable materials. According to investigators, officials from the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivkomtrans” and a businessman may have been involved in the alleged scheme. 

Анна Літман