Since 1986, every first Monday of October is World Habitat Day, dedicated to living conditions in human settlements. This year’s theme is Advanced Technology as an Innovative Tool for Converting Waste into Wealth. According to a 24/7 Wall Street agency study, by the end of 2018, with an indicator of 10.6 tons, Ukraine is among the top ten countries with the largest amount of garbage per inhabitant.
“Is it possible, turning all this waste into “wealth”, to enter the TOP-10 list of the richest countries in the world just as loudly? Using the open data of the State Statistics Committee and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine (before merging and renaming), we analyzed the volumes of waste in Ukraine and the sources of their formation. So, from 2014 to 2016, the volume of waste generation decreased annually, in 2017 it increased sharply, and last year it began to decline again. In terms of types of economic activity, the mining industry occupies the largest share in waste generation, and the construction industry, least, oddly enough. At the same time, the costs of waste disposal and recycling are growing every year,” comments Alexandra Gluzdovskaya, Head of Data Science of DC Evolution.
From year to year, in the total amount of environmental protection expenditures, the share of waste management costs remains practically unchanged and was maximum in 2017, when waste generation reached its maximum levels.
“As of 2018, almost 13 billion tons of garbage has accumulated in Ukraine – and this is only according to official data. In 2016, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine opened an online map for filing applications for landfill disposal. During this time, more than 6,500 applications were submitted, and although the dynamics of their implementation is stable from year to year, more than 70% remain completed and work. The problem of waste management is extremely painful for Ukraine. Only the one who lives without a TV and smartphone has not heard of the Lviv garbage crisis. And the place of honor in the TOP 10 countries that produce more garbage speaks for itself. Unfortunately, we are still very far from countries, recycling not only solve the environmental problem, but also earn money on it. And perhaps finally realizing that waste is not a garbage, but a resource, we will soon overcome our garbage crisis and build a strong economy,” adds Alexandra Gluzdovskaya.