Technical and technological capacity of waste disposal in the regions of Ukraine

Abstract

Active processing – incineration and utilization (mechanical and biological treatment), along with passive storage of inert residues in specially designated areas, are the most commonly used waste management techniques in Ukraine. According to European standards, these technologies carry environmental risks to some extent and do not belong to full-fledged recycling. Significant amounts of accumulated and generated waste determine the regional economic capacity that can be used for the introduction of recycling technologies. The article aims to conduct a feasibility study on waste processing in Ukraine, given the regional capacity for the development of recycling technologies. To reach this goal, the following tasks were solved: to analyze the existing technologies for processing household and similar waste and to carry out their economic evaluation; identify areas for innovative development of regional waste management systems in the near future. The analysis of technologies of household and similar waste processing existing in Ukraine is carried out. The article emphasizes that there are a number of problems with their functionality. Emphasis is placed on the availability of powerful raw materials for recycling. The following main problems of waste disposal sites are outlined: lack of their certification due to non-compliance with current standards and continued accumulation of waste despite the exhaustion of service life; voluntary decisions to close technogenic risk landfills; finding alternative ways of waste management. A comparative ecological and economic assessment of waste processing technologies is carried out. The use of innovative technologies of waste incineration through reconstruction and equipping of processing plants with modern combustion and filtration systems of exhaust gases to minimize environmental risks is relevant for the development of waste management systems.