Sorted the trash – spruced up the yard: A homeowners’ association in Vinnytsia is making money from waste

Sorted the trash – spruced up the yard: A homeowners’ association in Vinnytsia is making money from waste suspilne.media
Maria Semenova

Residents have become so accustomed to collecting trash that they now dispose of it every ten days instead of once a month

Thanks to separate waste collection, one of the condominiums (OSBB) in Vinnytsia not only contributes to environmental protection but also receives additional resources for improving the surrounding area. Overall, this is one of 74 apartment buildings that have joined the city initiative. The program has been running for a year in Vinnytsia’s residential sector: people collect plastic, paper, and glass separately, and a specialized organization collects the recyclables for money.

This was reported on the website of the Vinnytsia City Council.

Residents of the OSBB “Akademika Yangelya-73” have been sorting waste since June 2025. When it all started, people were just beginning to get used to the new rules. Back then, recyclables were handed over once a month. Now, however, all residents have gotten so accustomed to sorting that the interval has been reduced to just ten days.

“We really wanted our courtyard to be tidy. That’s why we were among the first to join the waste sorting initiative. If previously residents of neighboring buildings, passing by on their way to work, would throw garbage onto this container site, now only those who have joined the initiative do so. These are two apartment blocks and residents of the private sector,” said OSBB head Inna Volkova.

vmr.gov.ua

Source: Vinnytsia City Council

How has the courtyard already changed?

The residents first and foremost gained a clean container area. Now there is no excess waste such as branches or bulky items.

However, thanks to the “waste” funds, much more has been achieved. According to the OSBB head, the courtyard has already:

  • purchased paint and repainted the children’s playground;
  • planted ornamental plants, including sakura, magnolia, and almond trees;
  • planted flowers;
  • repainted benches;
  • upgraded mailboxes.

Additionally, windows in common areas of the building have been repaired and mailboxes upgraded. The residents plan to set up a separate site for recyclable collection.

EcoPolitic previously shared advice on how to develop a habit of waste sorting-where to start and how to organize the process.

Related
Scientists have discovered a new species of wild cat for the first time in over 100 years: photo
Scientists have discovered a new species of wild cat for the first time in over 100 years: photo

What cats eat and how they reproduce remains a mystery

Hundreds of tonnes of rubbish in Uman: how the city is cleaned up during the Hasidic pilgrimage
Hundreds of tonnes of rubbish in Uman: how the city is cleaned up during the Hasidic pilgrimage

The final clean-up will be completed in one and a half to two weeks

Century-old trees in Vinnytsia face felling: breaches by the authorities and the developer have been uncovered
Century-old trees in Vinnytsia face felling: breaches by the authorities and the developer have been uncovered

The developer ignored the existence of the trees in the project, whilst the authorities ‘forgot’ about the public consultations

Eco-bus timetable for September in Lviv, Khmelnytskyi and Poltava
Eco-bus timetable for September in Lviv, Khmelnytskyi and Poltava

The list of waste accepted by the specialised collection vehicle varies slightly from city to city