Unsustainable waste management systems, including waste dumping, burning, and littering, are significant challenges in the modern era. These unsustainable waste management practices impact regional development by posing a threat to environmental, social, and economic growth. The hazardous contaminants released from waste burning or unprotected disposal have a destructive impact on both human health and the environment, causing habitat damage, climate change, and disease transmission. Furthermore, unsustainable waste management systems contribute to resource depletion and emissions of greenhouse gases and, as a result, the acceleration of global warming. Regarding the financial aspect, unsustainable waste management systems place pressure on local governments and communities by diverting resources that could have been used in educational and health sectors, damaging the regional economy, increasing healthcare costs, and causing higher resource expenditures and productivity losses.
As a case study, this thesis project examines the waste management system in the Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine. The key objective is to provide a transformational strategy for the regional waste management system by addressing the central research question: “How can the waste management system in the Chernihiv Oblast be transformed to address regional sustainability challenges?” As a result, the research employs an exploratory case study method that guides the analysis of the current state of the waste management system, examines effective systems within the European Union, and tailors these practices and initiatives to the local context.
The method helps identify the region’s challenges and prospects for the transformation towards a sustainable waste management system. The primary issues include underdeveloped infrastructure, limited funding, and low public awareness and participation. The present waste management system entails unsorted waste collection and landfilling with little or no consideration for recycling or resource recovery, which, as a result, has adverse effects on the environment, public health, and resource efficiency.
The study of the European Union’s systems and practices reveals that member states have holistic and long-term strategies for the waste management sector. In general, the European Union can be described as having a sound regulatory environment, technology advancement, and high citizen engagement. The key initiatives include extended producer responsibility, advanced waste sorting and treatment technologies, and circular economy principles, which have demonstrated significant results in improving resource preservation.
As a result, the research provides relevant recommendations to national and regional governments that can contribute to the further transformation of the Chernihiv Oblast’s waste management system. Moreover, such recommendations seek to contribute to the overall development of the waste management sector, where the transformation is viewed as both necessary and gainful. It is possible to build and implement a sustainable waste management system by learning from the European Union’s challenges and implementing the most effective techniques. In a nutshell, this transformation requires the definition of clear environmental, social and economic values, the implementation of modern waste sorting and treatment technologies, market and government support, and, most importantly, a collaborative contribution from the stakeholders. Altogether, this will allow for long-term resource efficiency and sustainability, thereby improving the Chernihiv Oblast’s environment, economy, and social well-being.