2025-12-16
Key findings on reducing climate impact from Ukraine’s landfills
The WM4U Programme has published the Extended Landfill Gas (LFG) Study, authored by programme expert Denys Kutsyi, marking an important milestone in advancing evidence-based landfill gas management in Ukraine. The study delivers an in-depth assessment of methane emissions and identifies practical, economically viable measures to reduce greenhouse emissions at priority municipal solid waste landfills.
The report builds on the preliminary nationwide analysis conducted in 2023–2024, which showed that around 320 large landfills are responsible for over 82% of Ukraine’s landfill-related GHG emissions. To address this challenge, the Extended Study introduces an international best-practice methodology for selecting landfill sites and evaluating LFG management options.
From 48 large landfill sites across four WM4U pilot regions (Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions), 15 priority landfills were selected for detailed technical and economic assessment of LFG management options. The study proposes site-specific measures, preliminary designs, and economic data suitable for future feasibility studies aimed at reducing methane emissions and enhancing energy recovery.
Key conclusions
The study shows that in each pilot region one or two very large-size, long-operating landfills dominate total methane emissions and have the strongest potential for LFG collection and energy recovery, with several sites already operating electricity generation systems. Medium-sized landfills, including Koziatyn, Pyriatyn, Lozova and Zmiiv, demonstrate sufficient LFG generation to justify the installation of LFG collection and flaring systems or, in some cases, energy production, making them strong candidates for future feasibility studies. In contrast, smaller landfills show five-to-six times lower LFG potential, with gas collection often technically or economically unviable, and some sites generating negligible emissions and requiring full remediation instead.
Nationwide implications
Based on the methodology tested in the pilot regions, the report also prioritises landfill sites across the rest of Ukraine. While the country’s largest landfills already operate LFG utilisation systems, many sites with over 0.3 million tonnes of waste still require the installation of LFG collection and flaring systems to reduce their climate and environmental impact. These sites merit further study using the approach developed in this report.
The Extended LFG Study is a critical contribution to Ukraine’s efforts to mitigate climate change, modernise waste sector infrastructure and foster sustainable energy recovery. Its recommendations will serve as the basis for future feasibility studies and targeted investments under the WM4U Programme and beyond.
Download the report: Extended Landfill Gas Study – Landfill Gas Management at selected sites
Senast uppdaterad - 2025-12-16
