You're reading: Europe launches new waste management project in Zakarpattia region

An EU-funded regional project aimed at improving waste management in the eastern countries of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI East) will formally launch its project activities in Ukraine's pilot region, Zakarpattia region, on Monday, September 6, 2010.

The EU Delegation to Ukraine reported on Monday that the project, called "Waste Management – ENPI East," aimed at assisting partner countries in their efforts to reduce the risks arising from the inappropriate management of waste, that thereby create environmental pollution hazards to the community and to natural resources, through cooperation with, and amongst, partner states in the region.

This ambitious four-year project (EUR 5.9 million) is an important component of the EU’s ENPI Eastern Regional Indicative Program for 2007-2010 and will be implemented in all countries of the ENPI Eastern Region, namely: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as Russia.

According to preliminary assessments, the activities in the pilot area in Ukraine will be focused mainly on communal waste, including for PET bottles, which have proven to be a problem for this mountainous region.

The project’s specific objective is to improve the management of waste by promoting higher standards at waste facilities, more effective waste prevention initiatives, increased capacities for waste collection and sorting as well as increasing re-use, recovery, and safe disposal of waste.

From the perspective of its activities within Zakarpattia region, its intended results are completed inventories of existing illegal/non-compliant waste disposal sites within the region, and a 15-year, integrated, waste management strategy for Zakarpattia region.

The project partner for the country as a whole is the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The main beneficiary in Zakarpattia region is Zakarpattia Regional State Administration.

Other important local target groups include the State Environmental Inspectorate, the State Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Zakarpattia Water Management Board, the Sanitary-Epidemiological Service in Zakarpattia, and local NGOs.

The project will be officially launched at Zolota Girka Hotel in the village of Barvinok, Uzhgorod district, Zakarpattia region, at 1000 on September 6.

The launch will be attended by representatives of Zakarpattia region and the Delegation of the European Union.