Welcome to the WM4U Newsletter #2!
Partnership through action – from local impact to national reform.
In a fresh news digest for September–November 2025, WM4U – Waste Management for Ukraine – has combined on-the-ground progress with high-level cooperation during its first annual conference. From new donations of waste bins and a biomethane garbage truck in Ukrainian cities to policy work on tariffs and waste labelling, the programme continues to drive systemic change at every level. |
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On 9 October, Kyiv hosted the first annual conference of the Swedish-Ukrainian WM4U programme, bringing together around 150 participants – from ministries and Ukrainian municipalities to Swedish partner organisations.
The event celebrated a year of active cooperation and tangible results while setting priorities for the road ahead. Through presentations and panel discussions, participants reflected on achievements, shared insights, and explored how European standards, inter-municipal cooperation, and sustainability can shape Ukraine’s modern waste management system.
The conference reaffirmed a shared commitment: real progress starts with partnership in action.
Read more about the conference
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This autumn, two Vinnytsia-region communities took another tangible step toward cleaner and more efficient waste management with support from the Waste Management for Ukraine (WM4U) programme.
Luka-Meleshkivska community received 105 municipal waste containers (1,000 L each) from the Swedish company Norra Skånes Renhållning. Vinnytsia city community received 352 containers (190 L each) from Sigtuna Vatten & Renhållning, Sigtuna municipality.
These new containers will help expand regular waste collection and keep neighbourhoods tidier – a visible step towards European waste management standards and cleaner urban spaces.
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“Waste is everyone’s responsibility. When we dispose of it properly, we build a clean and comfortable community for our children,” – Bohdan Avhustovych, Head of Luka-Meleshkivska community
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On 23 September, Lozova community in Kharkiv region received a biomethane-powered Scania waste truck donated by Renhållningen Kristianstad. The eco-friendly vehicle boosts the city’s waste collection capacity and highlights Swedish-Ukrainian cooperation for cleaner, more sustainable communities. Read more |
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Ukraine is set to introduce the Nordic waste labelling system, already used in Sweden and other EU countries, to help citizens sort and recycle waste more effectively. At the International Conference “Modern Ecopolitics of Ukraine” (4–5 November), Oleksandr Ihnatenko, WM4U National Expert, presented steps toward developing Ukraine’s system for separate household waste collection – bringing the country closer to European environmental standards.
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“The Nordic labelling system is not just about design – it’s about communication, clarity, and encouraging responsible environmental behaviour.” – Andrik Mols, WM4U Technical Project Manager
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From 2 to 4 September, a series of working meetings took place between Ukrainian clusters of the WM4U Programme and their Swedish partners. The central focus was on agreeing a work plan for the preparation of baseline reports. Read more |
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On 2–3 October 2025, the International Conference on Municipal Waste Management ReThink Waste took place in Lviv, gathering more than 300 participants from across Ukraine. WM4U experts spoke in key conference panels and presented the results of the Programme’s first year of work.
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On 6 October, WM4U held a meeting with the newly formed Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, established as a result of government reforms that merged the former ministries of economy, agriculture, and environmental protection. More details here |
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On 7 October, the 2nd meeting of the Advisory Committee of WM4U Programme took place in Kyiv. The discussion brought together representatives of Ukrainian ministries, parliament, and Swedish partners. The WM4U presented results in developing a tariff model for municipal waste management, baseline reports for community clusters, and more. More details here |
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On 8 October, a seminar in Kyiv presented the results of a Sweco study on the current tariff system for waste management services in Ukraine and to discuss possible ways to improve it. Read more here |
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As winter approaches, WM4U continues to support Ukraine’s transition towards sustainable and resilient waste management.
Next up: new donations, pilot activities, webinars and training, new work visit to Sweden, and continued partnerships with local communities both in Sweden and Ukraine.
We look forward to highlighting new WM4U activities for you!
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