Mykolaiv may be left without a functioning landfill for waste: authorities are urgently moving to implement waste sorting

In Mykolaiv, updated rules have been established for organizing the sorting of solid household waste. The city council adopted the relevant decision during the session on May 14, 2026, the Mykolaiv City Council reported.

The document provides for holding a tender, based on the results of which a contractor to provide waste-sorting services should be selected. As explained by the deputy director of the Department of Housing and Communal Services, Ihor Nabatov, new requirements have been added to the participation conditions. In particular, this concerns the financial capacity of the future contractor and the availability of qualified technical personnel. The decision also clarifies the terms of cooperation. The contract is planned to be concluded for no more than 15 years with the possibility of further extension for another 10 years. Members of the city council may be included in the tender commission.

During the consideration of the issue, it was emphasized separately that creating a sorting line is not merely an initiative of the city authorities but a requirement of the legislation of Ukraine. In addition, the relevant decision was supported by a court in a lawsuit filed by the prosecutor’s office in the interests of the State Ecological Inspectorate. The city must ensure the construction of such a line, as well as implement projects to reclaim the existing landfill and create a new one.

According to the Department of Housing and Communal Services, reclamation work is already underway. The contract was signed in 2024, and the project is currently undergoing coordination and being prepared for expert review. At the same time, the issue of constructing a new landfill remains unresolved due to the absence of an appropriate land plot.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that the city cannot further postpone the implementation of waste sorting, because without reducing the volume of garbage the operating landfill may face the threat of closure.

“Waste is biodegradable; from our household waste we need to separate those items that do not decompose — glass, plastic, and so on — and someone has to do that. So far there is no technology that would do this at the stage of throwing waste into the bin, so people need to sort. We do not have such an opportunity. Today we are facing the fact that if we do not start sorting and reducing the amount of solid household waste, the solid household waste landfill will stop functioning in the near future,” – the mayor emphasized.

Oleksandr Senkevych also noted that the city authorities have appealed to the regional military administration and neighboring communities with a request to provide a land plot for a new landfill. However, according to him, no response has been received so far. Because of this, holding a tender to equip a sorting line is currently seen as the most practical option that will help reduce the load on the existing solid household waste landfill.

At the same time, the city is preparing an appeal to international partners proposing participation in the project. According to the mayor, foreign companies have already shown interest, including the French Veolia – one of the world leaders in waste management. This company may take part in the upcoming tender.

Previously we wrote:

• Up to 561 hryvnias per cubic meter: Mykolaiv plans a sharp increase in the tariff for bulky waste
• Trash bins worth millions: Mykolaiv purchased 200 new steel containers
• Scandal over waste sorting in Mykolaiv: deputies refused, the mayor complained about Telegram trash channels
• A waste investor in Mykolaiv: instead of a sorting line — political games and a toxic director
• A phantom company taking a billion on waste? Conditions worse than others — Kim on waste sorting