Hazardous Waste Management in Khmelnytskyi

Hazardous waste management in Khmelnytskyi is one of the main environmental challenges of the region. According to official data, more than 3,000 tons of hazardous waste are generated in the city annually, including industrial, medical and household hazardous materials. Most of this waste falls into the category of electronic waste, batteries, used oils and pharmaceutical residues, which require special conditions for further processing and storage.

Hazardous waste management in Khmelnytskyi includes its collection, sorting, transportation and further processing. There are several hazardous waste collection points in the city, but their number remains insufficient to ensure full coverage. According to the results of environmental monitoring, about 40% of hazardous waste ends up in general waste, which poses a serious threat to the environment.

Environmental maintenance of enterprises is an important direction in minimizing the impact of industrial waste on nature. Over 200 large industrial enterprises are registered in Khmelnytskyi, which generate significant volumes of hazardous materials. Since 2022, local authorities have introduced a mandatory environmental audit for enterprises, which allows them to track their impact on the environment. Thanks to such measures, the level of pollution from industrial waste has decreased by 15% over the past two years.

Hazardous waste in the city is stored at certified landfills and warehouses that meet state environmental standards. Currently, Khmelnytskyi has three specialized sites for temporary storage of hazardous substances, equipped with sealed containers and monitoring systems. However, environmental experts note that the city needs to expand such facilities, as their capacity is already approaching a critical level.

Transportation of hazardous waste in the city is carried out in compliance with national and international safety standards. In 2023, more than 500 official transportations of hazardous substances from Khmelnytskyi to specialized enterprises in Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk regions were recorded. Specially equipped vehicles are used for transportation, which undergo technical control before each transportation.

Recycling of hazardous waste in the city is one of the most promising areas of environmental policy. There are two enterprises specializing in the recycling of electronic waste and waste oils in the Khmelnytskyi region. In 2023, more than 120 tons of batteries and 30 tons of electronic equipment were recycled. However, a significant part of hazardous waste is still exported to other regions due to the lack of capacity for processing toxic substances.

Public awareness of the problem of hazardous waste management is gradually growing. Over the past year, more than 30 information campaigns aimed at promoting environmentally friendly waste management have been held in Khmelnytskyi. As a result of a survey conducted in 2023, 65% of city residents said they were ready to sort hazardous waste if the appropriate infrastructure was available.

Local authorities are actively cooperating with international organizations and funds to attract funding in the field of environmental development. In 2023, Khmelnytskyi received a grant from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for 5 million hryvnias to create mobile hazardous waste collection points. Such initiatives contribute to the expansion of environmental infrastructure and increased efficiency of waste management.

Preventing illegal handling of hazardous waste remains a priority task for the city authorities. In 2023, 15 illegal landfills of hazardous materials were identified and eliminated, which is half the number in 2021. To strengthen control, it is planned to introduce a video surveillance system at hazardous waste collection and storage sites, which will allow for prompt detection of violations.

An integrated approach to hazardous waste management allows Khmelnytskyi to implement an effective environmental policy and reduce pollution. Thanks to the efforts of local authorities, enterprises and the community, it is possible to improve the system of collection, transportation and processing of hazardous materials. However, to further improve the situation, it is necessary to increase the number of specialized enterprises for the treatment of toxic waste and expand the network of collection points, which will significantly reduce environmental risks in the future.