The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine has announced the launch of a pilot project to implement EPR – an extended producer responsibility system. To this end, memoranda of cooperation were signed today with the RECOPACK Association and the Ukrainian Packaging and Environmental Coalition (UKRPE).
The ministry emphasizes that the project will help prepare a sound national EPR strategy in the field of packaging in accordance with European Union standards.
The relevance of the problem
The volume of packaging waste generated in Ukraine is enormous. We are talking about more than 3 million tons per year. However, only a tiny fraction of this volume is recycled. There are two reasons for this: the lack of sustainable funding and the lack of the necessary infrastructure.
What is expected from the implementation of the pilot project:
- increased packaging recycling volumes;
- attraction of additional investment into the waste management system;
- reduction of secondary raw material imports through the development of domestic recycling facilities;
- creation of an effective and transparent operational system at the community level.
“This is a real tool for involving businesses in addressing environmental problems according to the 'polluter pays' principle. EPR allows channeling additional funds from producers to develop modern waste management infrastructure,” stated Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
Source: Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine
Previously, EcoPolitics reported that activists had demanded the resumption of work on the draft law on packaging waste.
