Hazardous waste management in the city of Kupyansk, Kharkiv region

Hazardous waste management in the city of Kupyansk, Kharkiv region is one of the priority tasks in the field of environmental safety of the region. The city has a developed industrial infrastructure, transport hubs and agro-processing enterprises, which contributes to the formation of a significant amount of toxic waste. Inefficient management of hazardous substances can cause environmental pollution and affect the health of residents.

Hazardous waste management includes the collection, sorting, transportation and processing of toxic substances. There are hazardous waste collection points in Kupyansk, where the population can hand over batteries, electronic equipment and chemicals. However, there is a problem of an insufficient number of such points, which leads to the entry of hazardous substances into general landfills.

Environmental maintenance of enterprises in the city is aimed at reducing the negative impact of industrial activity on the environment. Kupyansk is home to machine-building, food and agricultural enterprises that generate significant amounts of toxic substances, including petroleum products, chemical compounds and pharmaceutical residues. In 2023, 22 environmental inspections were conducted, revealing numerous violations in the field of hazardous waste management.

Hazardous waste in the city is stored at certified sites intended for the temporary placement of toxic substances. However, a significant part of enterprises, due to the lack of proper infrastructure, is forced to use temporary warehouses, which increases the risk of leakage of hazardous substances into the environment. The greatest threat is posed by residues of agrochemicals and industrial waste that can enter groundwater.

Transportation of hazardous waste in Kupyansk is carried out in accordance with national and international environmental standards. In 2023, more than 75 tons of toxic substances were transported to specialized enterprises engaged in their further processing. Specially equipped vehicles with sealing systems are used for transportation, which prevent the spillage of hazardous materials during transportation.

Hazardous waste processing in the city remains underdeveloped. The bulk of toxic materials are transported to other regions for further processing. In 2023, more than 28 tons of hazardous waste were transferred from Kupyansk for recycling, including batteries, electronic equipment, and chemical reagents. The city authorities are considering the possibility of creating a local center for the recycling of hazardous substances.

Public awareness of hazardous waste management remains at an insufficient level. Surveys have shown that only 39% of city residents know about special collection points for toxic substances. In 2023, 14 educational events were organized to raise environmental awareness among the population. The city authorities plan to expand the information campaign on the responsible handling of hazardous materials.

Local authorities are actively cooperating with environmental organizations and government agencies to improve the hazardous waste management system. In 2023, Kupyansk received a grant of 1.9 million hryvnias for the purchase of modern equipment for the collection and transportation of toxic materials. This will improve the environmental situation and reduce the number of illegal landfills of hazardous substances.

Preventing illegal handling of hazardous waste is one of the main tasks of the city. In 2023, environmental services identified 16 cases of illegal dumping of toxic materials in places not designated for this purpose. To combat this problem, the city authorities plan to strengthen control over the movement of hazardous waste by implementing an electronic accounting and monitoring system.

An integrated approach to hazardous waste management allows Kupyansk to gradually improve the environmental situation. The introduction of new methods of collection, transportation, storage and processing of hazardous materials helps reduce the level of environmental pollution. However, to further improve the situation, it is necessary to expand the network of hazardous substances collection points, modernize infrastructure, and strengthen control over industrial enterprises.