Ukraine and Japan prepare for a new stage of cooperation on disaster waste management: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development

The results of the pilot project on disaster waste management and preparations for the next phase of cooperation for 2027–2029 were the main topics of a meeting with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The event was attended by Natalia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine; Kazunao Shibata, Deputy Director General in the Global Environment Department at JICA Headquarters; as well as representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture and the Ministry of Health.

According to Natalia Kozlovska, the key approach should be a shift from providing local assistance to communities to developing a systematic policy for the management of waste resulting from destruction.

“Today, a significant amount of such waste is already being tracked in at least six regions, and in fact, every community is dealing with this; there is no region without damage. Therefore, solutions must be scalable to the entire country,” noted the Deputy Minister.

The focus is on three key participants in the process: communities, contractors, and manufacturers of construction products.

Communities need awareness and clear protocols for action—from clearing territories to sorting and preparing waste for recycling. Contracting organizations must operate under clear rules, taking into account current sanitary standards. Manufacturers, however, play a distinct role—it is their responsibility to integrate recycled materials into production. At the same time, the key requirement is the quality and safety of the final product.

“Ukraine has adopted EU legislation regarding the quality of construction products. Regardless of the raw materials, the final product must meet established standards,” emphasized Natalia Kozlovska.

The use of demolition waste in construction is possible only if quality standards are met. That is why Ukraine is interested in studying international experience, particularly Japan’s, regarding the creation of such standards.

The Japanese side also supported the need to develop clear technical requirements for products made from recycled materials. This could serve as a foundation for market development and attracting business, especially in road construction.

Read more on the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development website.