A waste processing complex will finally appear in Lviv.

A waste processing complex will finally appear in Lviv. In two years, the first modern plant in Ukraine with European technology of mechanical and biological waste processing will be built. Garbage will be sorted and biologically treated. Also, as an output secondary raw materials and solid renewable fuel (RDF) will be produced, they will be supplied and sold to cement plants.

The complex will be located in a large industrial area within the city, and this is what causes the greatest indignation among residents. The question of location has become a major stumbling block in this story. Lviv residents do not want the waste processing complex to operate in the city. But no community in the region has agreed to accept Lviv garbage. Sooner or later, most cities in Ukraine will face the same problem and will be forced to build recycling complexes within their settlements.

In fact, this practice has long been the norm for Europe, Japan and the United States. Processing and recycling complexes operate not only in remote industrial zones, as will be the case in Lviv, but also near residential areas or even in the city center. For example, in Copenhagen, Vienna, Stockholm and Tokyo, waste incineration plants operate almost in the center, these WtE plants have also become an architectural highlight. In addition, such a decision is economically justified. After all, the costs of waste transportation are reduced, which means that the tariff for garbage removal is reduced.

Therefore, today the question is not “where to build?”, But how to make recycling as safe as possible. Modern technologies can reduce harmful emissions to almost zero. Powerful European financial and environmental institutions will be the partners in Lviv project, so they will monitor compliance with standards at all stages.

At the same time, the city will introduce a new waste management system, which will include the sorting of dry and wet waste, secondary raw materials and the construction of separate sites for the collection of electronics, bulky and construction waste. This is a comprehensive approach that should finally address the garbage issue in Lviv.

But there is such a problem in many other cities. Especially since Ukrainians are leaders in the amount of waste. Thus, according to the SENSEable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, we produce the largest amount of garbage among Europeans. In particular, resident of Kyiv produces in average – 600 kg of waste per year (!). For comparison – a resident of Zurich produces 406 kg of waste. Existing landfills are congested, new places are extremely difficult to find.

There are no simple and easy solutions with garbage. Only a comprehensive, thoughtful approach.

Clear Energy already has several projects developed in cooperation with municipalities that will help Ukrainian cities addressing this issue as efficiently and safely as possible. Their implementation requires not only political will, but also a conscious, responsible attitude of all citizens. It is difficult, but we still have no other choice.