Hazardous waste management in Chortkiv city, Ternopil region

Hazardous waste management in Chortkiv city, Ternopil region is an important environmental task that requires modern approaches to the collection, transportation and processing of toxic materials. Due to the development of industry, agriculture and medical institutions, a significant amount of hazardous substances accumulate in the city every year, which can harm the environment and public health.

Hazardous waste management includes their correct sorting, storage and further processing. There are special collection points for used batteries, fluorescent lamps and chemical reagents in Chortkiv, but their number is insufficient to fully cover the city. This leads to the fact that some of the toxic materials end up in general garbage cans, which creates a risk of soil and water pollution.

Environmental maintenance of enterprises in Chortkiv is aimed at reducing the negative impact of industrial waste on the environment. Industrial facilities such as food enterprises, woodworking plants and pharmaceutical companies generate significant amounts of toxic materials, including chemical compounds, petroleum products and pharmaceutical residues. In 2023, 14 inspections were conducted that revealed violations in the field of hazardous waste management.

Hazardous waste in the city is stored in specially designated areas that meet environmental requirements. However, existing landfills have limited capacity, which creates a problem of accumulation of toxic substances. The most dangerous are agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and industrial lubricant residues, which can penetrate groundwater and cause environmental threats.

Transportation of hazardous waste from Chortkiv is carried out by specialized companies that have the necessary certificates and licenses. In 2023, more than 31 tons of toxic materials were transported from the city to enterprises for further processing. For transportation, sealed containers and protected tanks are used, which avoids leakage of hazardous substances.

Hazardous waste recycling is an important area of ​​Chortkiv's environmental policy. Due to the lack of its own enterprise for processing toxic materials, a significant part of the waste is transported to other regions. In 2023, more than 23 tons of batteries, electronic components and chemicals were transferred for recycling. The city authorities are considering the possibility of building a local hazardous waste recycling plant to reduce the environmental burden.

Public awareness of the need for proper handling of hazardous waste remains insufficient. Surveys show that only 41% of residents are aware of existing toxic materials collection points. In 2023, 10 information events were held in Chortkiv aimed at increasing the environmental responsibility of the population. However, to achieve better results, it is necessary to intensify educational activities and involve public organizations.

Local authorities are actively cooperating with environmental organizations and international funds to improve the hazardous waste management system. In 2023, the city received funding in the amount of 1.8 million hryvnias for the purchase of modern equipment for the collection, transportation and processing of toxic materials. It is planned to introduce mobile collection points and expand the environmental monitoring network.

Preventing illegal handling of hazardous waste is one of the priority tasks for the city. In 2023, 9 cases of illegal dumping of toxic substances in forest belts and on the territory of abandoned industrial facilities were recorded. The authorities plan to install a video surveillance system in critical areas and increase penalties for violators of environmental legislation.

An integrated approach to hazardous waste management allows Chortkov to improve the environmental situation. The introduction of modern methods of collection, transportation, storage and processing of toxic materials contributes to reducing pollution levels and preserving natural resources. However, to further improve this area, it is necessary to expand environmental infrastructure, attract more investment, and increase the level of control over compliance with environmental standards.