Ukrainian Municipalities visit Swedish Counterparts

In early May, a week-long series of study visits took place as part of the Sida-funded program Waste Management for Ukraine (WM4U). Around 20 representatives from four Ukrainian municipal clusters visited their Swedish partner municipalities in the regions of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Gävle, and Malmö.

The program began in Malmö with a joint introduction to Swedish waste management practices. After this, participants traveled to their respective partner municipalities for three days of in-depth study visits. The goal was to provide insights into how municipal waste management is organized in Sweden — with a particular focus on inter-municipal cooperation.

From Policy to Practice

The programs included both theoretical and practical components — such as site visits to facilities, lectures, and meetings with local politicians. The Ukrainian participants showed strong engagement and keen interest in Swedish approaches and experiences. Particular attention was given to organizational structures, regulation and oversight, and strategies for influencing citizen behavior towards more sustainable practices.

Discussions highlighted the importance of long-term thinking, transparency, and citizen involvement — all key principles of the Swedish waste management system. It was emphasized that successful waste management isn’t just about infrastructure and technology, but also about building well-functioning organizations and public understanding and engagement.

During the visits, the groups also worked on developing Baseline Reports, which will provide a broad overview of the current waste management situation in each Ukrainian cluster. These reports will serve as an important foundation for the continued work within the WM4U program.

Strong Appreciation and Momentum

At the end of the week, all participants gathered in Stockholm. A key part of the final day was the Ukrainian teams sharing their reflections and takeaways, expressing deep appreciation for the well-prepared programs and the hospitality of their Swedish counterparts. They highlighted important lessons such as the role of communication and public attitudes in creating an effective waste system.

They also underlined the need for increased knowledge around waste issues at multiple levels in Ukraine, as well as the strength of inter-municipal collaboration.

The visit marked the true starting point of the WM4U program and laid a solid foundation for continued cooperation between Swedish and Ukrainian actors.

The next meeting will take place on Ukrainian soil later this summer, where the work on the baseline reports will continue, along with an opportunity to see Ukrainian waste systems on-site.

 

Senast uppdaterad - 2025-05-14