The Government of Ukraine has taken a significant step toward managing the massive volumes of debris resulting from wartime destruction and rebuilding the country. In February 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution establishing the procedure for meeting targets related to the preparation, reuse, and recycling of construction and demolition waste (CDW). This new regulation is not only an environmental necessity but a cornerstone for building Ukrainian economic resilience and a circular economy.
The reform, championed by Olena Shuliak, head of the Committee on Territory Organization and Local Self-Government, aims to ensure that demolition waste does not end up in landfills but returns to the construction and road-building industries as valuable raw materials.
Unified Framework and Annual Targets
The resolution (“Procedure for fulfilling targets for the preparation for reuse, recycling, and other material recovery of construction and demolition waste”) introduces uniform rules for all enterprises, regardless of their form of ownership. The main pillars of the regulation include:
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Mandatory Declaration: Every company that generates construction and demolition waste must submit a waste declaration.
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Annual Calculation: Reuse and recycling indicators must be recalculated every year.
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Continuous Monitoring: The state will analyze the status of waste management and the achievement of targets on an annual basis to ensure process transparency.
Olena Shuliak emphasized that accurate accounting of debris helps communities create effective recovery plans, while providing the business sector with visibility into the volume of potentially usable raw materials available in specific regions.
Quantitative Data and Strategic Goals through 2033
The government strategy and the national waste management plan support these development directions with concrete figures:
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War Debris: In the Bucha district of the Kyiv region alone, preliminary estimates suggest that approximately 2 million tons of construction waste have already accumulated in the residential sector alone.
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Long-term Goal: Ukraine’s objective is to reach a 70% recovery rate (by weight) for the reuse, recycling, and other recovery of non-hazardous materials, including construction waste, by 2033.
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Residential Coverage: According to the plan, at least 85% of the population must be involved in organized waste management services by 2033.
Circular Economy and EU Standards
The regulation aligns seamlessly with the recommendations outlined in the European Union’s expansion package. The government’s goal is for construction materials produced by Ukrainian manufacturers to meet EU characteristics and energy efficiency requirements.
The process consists of several technological stages: after on-site demining and explosive clearance, the debris is sorted, asbestos and other hazardous materials are removed, and the remaining waste is broken down into fractions (e.g., through crushing) to prepare it for secondary use. This method not only reduces environmental pressure but also significantly lowers the costs of reconstruction by providing raw materials locally.
Official Sources and References:
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News Source: CemNet – Ukraine approves rules to boost recycling
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Official State Announcement: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine – Government approves procedure for CDW targets (February 5, 2026)
