The web-site of the Ministry of Environment published the draft concept of the National Program of Waste Management developed by the Department of Environmental Safety (Department of Waste and Hazardous Chemicals management) pursuant to paragraph 1 of the instructions of President of Ukraine on 30.05.2011 № 1-1/1047 “to improve the effectiveness of state policy on waste management”.

The draft concept of the new National Program of Waste Management has five main tasks:

1. Prevention or minimization of waste.

It is planned to perform both the measures that reduce the overall volume of waste and the measures to reduce the content of hazardous substances in the waste category (class) hazard waste. This problem mainly applies to industrial waste.

2. The Maximum technically and economically appropriate use of waste production and consumption.

One of the key measures of this task should be the development and adoption of special laws that regulate the activity associated with secondary resources (recycling of materials), packaging and packing, household waste.

For this task it is planned to develop systems for handling the packing materials and packaging, waste oils, worn out tires and waste rubber products; vehicles unsuitable for use; spent electrical and electronic equipment (including transformers and stabilizers), construction waste.

3. Performance improvement in the sphere of waste treatment.

4. The final removal and disposal of waste that cannot be processed otherwise.

5. Preventing or reducing the negative impact on the environment of places for waste disposal.

Measures of this task are primarily related to the treatment of hazardous wastes.

UNENGO “MAMA-86” produced thirty comments and suggestions on the draft concept of the National Program of waste management in Ukraine (see Annex).