2025-10-16
Partnership through action: WM4U summarises the first year
On 9 October, Kyiv hosted the first annual conference of the Swedish-Ukrainian “Waste Management for Ukraine” (WM4U) programme. The conference served not only as an opportunity to report on achievements but also as a platform for dialogue on the European future of Ukraine’s waste management sector, inter-municipal cooperation, and environmental sustainability.
The event brought together around 150 participants, including representatives from government institutions, international organisations, partner communities, experts, and donor agencies.
Representatives of Ukrainian authorities and international partners highlighted the importance of systemic collaboration in waste management reform. Vitalii Surai, Director of the Department of Life Support Systems at the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, noted that Ukraine is gradually transitioning from fragmented solutions to a comprehensive approach based on strategic planning and integrated municipal waste management models.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Iryna Ovcharenko, emphasised the need to align Ukrainian standards with European ones and highlighted WM4U’s role as a catalyst for change in waste management and environmental protection.
On behalf of the Swedish government, Johanna Jonsson, Adviser at the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, praised the cooperation with project stakeholders and noted WM4U’s practical focus.
In his welcome address, Tony Clark, CEO of Avfall Sverige, said:
“The theme of this conference, Partnership through action, reflects the essence of our joint work. Over the past year, cooperation between countries and institutions has turned plans into tangible results. WM4U was established to strengthen Ukraine’s municipal waste management, and in just one year we are seeing capacity development and new approaches to work. This programme is not just about waste – it is about sustainability, about communities and citizens who, despite the war, invest into a more sustainable future.”
Ryan Knox, CEO of SALAR International, highlighted that the programme exemplifies international partnership built on trust, technical exchange, and a shared vision of Ukraine’s European path:
“It is encouraging to see solid partnerships across all governmental levels. This alignment between national policy, regional planning, and local implementation ensures sustainability – and mirrors the Swedish model of multilevel governance. As WM4U advances, our shared task is to combine Swedish and Ukrainian expertise – linking governance with technology – to ensure that municipalities remain at the heart of Ukraine’s European path.”
Busy first year
Key achievements in WM4U´s first year is inter-municipal cooperation, preparation of regional plans, studies on tariffs and landfill gas, as well as practical steps in donor support and training. Participants emphasised the need to enhance human resource capacity, coordinate between authorities and communities, and ensure the financial sustainability of the system.
The conference also high-lighted the link between waste management reform and Ukraine’s alignment with EU standards, and environment and climate change. It is important to combine national regulation with local solutions. Inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) is another key area of progressive waste management reform.
The final session addressed the role of international support in developing the waste management system and reducing landfill gas. It highlighted effective partnerships between donors and recipient communities, as well as examples of integrating Swedish equipment into local waste management systems, including in the Lozova community, Kharkiv region.
A new culture
In her closing remarks, WM4U Team Leader in Ukraine Olga Glazunova stressed that in its first year, WM4U has become more than a technical support programme – it is a platform for collaboration that fosters a new culture of waste management: transparent, environmentally focused, and people-centered:
“WM4U is not just a technical programme. It is a community that brings together those who believe in sustainable change, a future without waste, and partnership as the main driver of development.”
The programme is funded by Sida and run by Avfall Sverige and SALAR International.
Senast uppdaterad - 2025-10-28
