Hazardous waste management in the city of Khorol, Poltava region

Hazardous waste management in the city of Khorol, Poltava region is an important task for maintaining the ecological balance of the region. Industrial enterprises, medical institutions, transport companies and the agricultural sector generate significant volumes of toxic substances that require effective collection, transportation and processing. Proper organization of these processes helps to reduce the impact of harmful materials on the environment.

Hazardous waste management includes their identification, sorting, temporary storage and further processing. Khorol has specialized collection points for batteries, fluorescent lamps and electronic components, but they do not cover all the needs of the city. Some of the toxic materials end up in general garbage containers, which creates a risk of water and soil pollution.

Environmental maintenance of enterprises in the city is aimed at minimizing the negative impact of production on the environment. The main sources of hazardous waste are chemical enterprises, pharmaceutical companies and agricultural complexes that use pesticides, petroleum products and toxic compounds. In 2023, 10 environmental inspections were carried out, during which violations of the rules for handling chemicals were detected.

Hazardous waste is stored in the city at specialized sites, but their throughput is limited. The accumulation of industrial waste, pesticides and medical products that require hermetic storage pose a particular threat. To improve the situation, local authorities are considering the possibility of creating additional landfills with modern toxic substance control systems.

Transportation of hazardous waste from Khorol is carried out by specialized carriers who have the necessary licenses. In 2023, more than 28 tons of toxic materials were transported to specialized facilities for their further processing. Compliance with transportation standards allows you to prevent leaks of hazardous substances and reduce the level of environmental pollution.

Hazardous waste recycling is one of the key stages of the city's environmental control. Due to the lack of specialized enterprises in Khorol, most hazardous materials are transported to other regions. In 2023, more than 19 tons of batteries, electronic equipment, and chemical reagents were transferred for recycling. The city authorities are considering attracting investors to create their own hazardous waste recycling enterprise.

The level of environmental awareness of the population regarding hazardous waste management remains low. Only 41% of city residents are aware of existing toxic substance collection points. In 2023, 7 environmental events were held in Khorol to increase the level of conscious attitude towards toxic waste. To improve the situation, it is necessary to expand the information campaign and establish additional hazardous waste collection points.

Local authorities are actively working to improve the hazardous waste management system in cooperation with environmental services and international organizations. In 2023, the city received 1.6 million hryvnias for the development of the infrastructure for the collection, transportation and processing of toxic materials. It is planned to modernize existing landfills, create mobile collection points and introduce environmental monitoring.

Preventing illegal handling of hazardous waste is one of the main tasks of the city's environmental policy. In 2023, 6 cases of illegal dumping of toxic materials in forest plantations and near water bodies were recorded. To combat this problem, the authorities plan to install video surveillance systems in critical areas and increase penalties for violators.

An integrated approach to hazardous waste management allows Khorol to gradually improve the environmental situation. The introduction of modern methods of collection, transportation, storage and processing of toxic materials helps reduce the level of environmental pollution. However, to achieve long-term results, it is necessary to continue the development of environmental infrastructure, attract more investments and increase control over compliance with environmental standards.