Hazardous waste management in the city of Izmail, Odessa region

Hazardous waste management in the city of Izmail, Odessa region is an important issue for maintaining the ecological balance in the region. Given the developed industry, transport infrastructure and active activities of port enterprises, a significant amount of toxic materials is generated here, which require proper control and safe handling.

Hazardous waste management involves their identification, sorting and transfer to appropriate facilities for further processing. The city has collection points for used batteries, electronic devices and lamps, but the overall level of organization of such processes needs to be improved. Some hazardous substances end up in general waste, which creates environmental risks.

Environmental maintenance of enterprises is a necessary condition for compliance with environmental standards. There are several companies operating in the city that are engaged in the transportation and storage of industrial waste, but not all enterprises comply with the established standards. In 2023, 8 inspections were conducted, as a result of which violations in the field of handling toxic substances were identified.

Hazardous waste is stored in specialized storage facilities, but their throughput capacity is limited. The greatest danger is posed by petroleum products, chemical reagents and used pharmaceuticals. To reduce the environmental load, it is planned to expand the storage infrastructure and install new containers for collecting toxic substances.

Transportation of hazardous waste is carried out by specialized companies that have the necessary licenses and technical means. In 2023, more than 17 tons of toxic materials were transported from Izmail to facilities engaged in their further processing. An important factor is compliance with all environmental standards during transportation in order to avoid emergencies and leaks of hazardous substances.

Recycling of hazardous waste plays an important role in reducing their impact on the environment. Since the city does not have any enterprises engaged in the processing of toxic substances, all hazardous materials are transported to other regions. In 2023, more than 15 tons of batteries, accumulators, electronic components and chemical waste were transferred for recycling.

Increasing the level of environmental culture among residents is a key task for the city authorities. According to statistics, only 28% of Izmail residents know about hazardous waste collection points. In 2023, 7 information events were held aimed at raising public awareness of the rules for handling toxic materials.

Local authorities are actively working to improve the hazardous waste management system. In 2023, the city received funding in the amount of 1.6 million hryvnias for the modernization of the infrastructure for the collection and transportation of toxic materials. It is planned to create new mobile hazardous materials reception points to facilitate public access to an environmentally safe method of their transfer.

Preventing illegal handling of hazardous waste is one of the main areas of work of the city's environmental service. In 2023, 4 cases of illegal discharge of toxic materials in forest belts and on the outskirts of the city were recorded. To combat such violations, the authorities plan to introduce a video surveillance system and increase penalties.

An integrated approach to hazardous waste management in Izmail allows to improve the ecological situation and minimize risks to the environment and health of residents. The introduction of modern technologies for the collection, transportation, storage and processing of toxic materials will contribute to environmental safety and the preservation of natural resources in the region.