Hazardous waste management in the city of Krasnodar, Kharkiv region

Hazardous waste management in the city of Krasnodar, Kharkiv region is an important task for maintaining the ecological balance of the region. The main sources of such waste are industrial enterprises, agricultural facilities, transport infrastructure and medical institutions. The lack of an effective system for managing hazardous substances can lead to soil, water and air pollution, which poses a threat to public health.

Hazardous waste management includes its collection, sorting, transportation and further processing or storage. Krasnodar has several specialized collection points for toxic substances, including batteries, fluorescent lamps, electronic equipment and chemical reagents. However, a significant part of hazardous waste ends up in general waste due to insufficient awareness of the population and a limited number of collection points.

Environmental maintenance of enterprises in the city plays a key role in reducing industrial pollution. Agro-industrial and processing enterprises operating in Krasnodar generate significant amounts of hazardous waste, such as pesticide residues, petroleum products, and metal compounds. In 2023, more than 15 environmental inspections were conducted that revealed violations in the storage of hazardous materials.

Hazardous waste is stored at specially equipped landfills that have the appropriate permits. However, due to the increase in the amount of industrial waste, these facilities are beginning to operate at the limit of their capacity. The greatest threat is posed by agrochemicals that can penetrate groundwater and cause long-term pollution of the ecosystem.

Transportation of hazardous waste in Krasnodar is carried out in accordance with state environmental standards. Specialized vehicles with sealed containers are used to transport toxic materials. In 2023, more than 50 transportations of hazardous substances to specialized enterprises in neighboring regions were carried out. Despite transportation control, there are cases of illegal transportation, which requires increased supervision.

Hazardous waste recycling remains underdeveloped in the city. Currently, most toxic materials are transported to Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk region for further processing. In 2023, Krasnodar transferred more than 30 tons of hazardous materials for recycling, including batteries, electronic equipment, and chemical compounds. It is planned to create a local recycling center, which will significantly reduce transportation costs and increase the efficiency of processing hazardous substances.

Public awareness of the problem of hazardous waste remains insufficient. Surveys have shown that only 38% of city residents are aware of special collection points for toxic materials. In 2023, 12 information campaigns were held to raise environmental awareness. However, this is not enough to fully solve the problem, so the city authorities plan to intensify educational activities.

Local authorities are actively cooperating with state and international environmental organizations to improve the hazardous waste management system. In 2023, the city received a grant of 1.7 million hryvnias for the development of the infrastructure for the collection and transportation of toxic substances. These funds will be used to upgrade technical equipment, expand reception points, and strengthen control over compliance with environmental standards at enterprises.

Preventing illegal handling of hazardous waste is an important area of ​​activity for the city's environmental services. In 2023, 14 cases of illegal dumping of toxic materials were detected on the outskirts of the city. To combat this phenomenon, it is planned to introduce an electronic hazardous waste accounting system, which will allow controlling their movement and identifying violations in the field of toxic substance management.

An integrated approach to hazardous waste management allows for the gradual improvement of the environmental situation in Krasnodar. The introduction of new technologies for the collection, transportation, storage, and processing of toxic materials helps reduce pollution and protect natural resources. However, to achieve sustainable results, it is necessary to expand the environmental infrastructure, strengthen control over enterprises, and increase funding for environmental programs.