Proper waste sorting at home

They say it takes only twenty re-processed plastic bottles to make a men’s jacket. Now imagine how many valuable materials – and potential budget funds – is lying along the banks of our rivers as you read this piece, killing wildlife and polluting environment. 

In Ukraine, tens of million tons of waste is generated yearly, with only tiny share sorted and recycled. The rest goes to rest to landfills and pollutes our country.

On July 9, 2023, waste management law has come into effect, stipulating among the rest the establishment of waste gradation, manufacturer’s broader responsibility, and compulsory development of local and regional waste management plans.

The Law in details is cited in informational charts: http://surl.li/qqwzt

All kinds of waste are eligible to sorting, some of them to be used repeatedly. 

For this, as the Law says, there must exist relevant infrastructure in residential areas and other units of urban planning, that is, container grounds for separated collection of discarded paper and cardboard, polymers, glass, metal, and biowaste.

Polymers are labelled with 7 numbers, for easier pick-out.

For instance [«3» PVC] (used for window frames and pipes) becomes hazardous on heating and thus regards peculiar processing.

It is prohibited to throw into «Polymers» sweet wrappers, files, ear rods, toothbrushes, or plastic items labelled [PVC «3»] and [Other «7»].

Labels «1» and «2» are surely to be thrown into polymers. The rest is better be sorted separately and taken to recyclable points wherever possible.

The Law also dictates facilities for separated collection of fabrics.

Discarded greenery, large-size, construction, and hazardous household waste are to be collected separately, too.

Go get yourself a copy of our poster on solid municipal waste management: https://cutt.ly/kwLx9ieF

This article is created by NGO «Ekoltava» within implementing of grant project «Support of local waste management system» and has become possible thanks to U. S. Agency on international development (USAID) and sincere help from American nation, through USAID project «HOVERLA». This content may not reflect views of USAID and U. S. Government.