Ukraine is bringing its management of extractive waste into line with EU standards

Ukraine is bringing its management of extractive waste into line with EU standards shutterstock
Maria Semenova

Lawmakers plan to resolve the legal conflicts that are hindering business

Ukrainian legislation is to be brought into line with the provisions of Directive 2006/21/EC. To this end, a new document on waste management in the extractive industry will be drawn up, based on the already drafted but not yet adopted Bill No. 12180. Stakeholders may submit their proposals by 26 September.

This was reported by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

Precise adaptation

The European Directive will serve as the main guiding principle for the new law. The plan is to implement it as accurately and comprehensively as possible. Oleg Bondarenko, Chair of the Environment Committee, stated quite categorically that this is the primary objective, and that no additional proposals should distract from it.

"The Ministry regularly receives enquiries from the business community and the public regarding waste management in the extractive industries, and the absence of a specific law, coupled with existing legal conflicts, creates practical difficulties for businesses and government bodies. The forthcoming law is intended to ensure that Ukraine fulfils its European integration commitments and to establish clear rules for the sector,” added Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment of Ukraine.

The new waste legislation forms part of the implementation of the benchmark for Negotiating Chapter 27, ‘Environment and Climate Change’.

The current Law ‘On Waste Management’ does not cover all the specific features of the extractive industry. At the same time, the EU Directive is more comprehensive.

The basis for incorporating its provisions will be Bill No. 12180 “On the Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries”, which was registered on the Verkhovna Rada’s portal on 5 November 2024. In June 2025, it failed to secure the required number of votes at first reading.

The drafters plan to incorporate all comments and suggestions previously submitted on this document by government bodies and business representatives. Those who have not yet submitted their comments may do so to the Ministry of Economy by 26 September 2026.

Future plans include meetings with government bodies and business associations that have submitted comments. The updated version of the document is set to be put forward for discussion – either a public consultation or one restricted to interested parties. The document is due to be submitted to parliament by the end of December 2026.

You can find out more about Bill No. 12180 and the comments on it by following this link.

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