Circular Economy in Ukraine on the Way to European Integration: Directions for Sustainable Management during the War and Post-War Recovery

Abstract

The results of the research show that in developed countries, where approximately 16% of the world’s population lives, more than 2 times more solid waste per capita than one Ukrainian, but more than half of this waste is subject to recycling and composting. The results of the correlation analysis have shown that the circular economies of Ukraine and EU countries are very closely connected. Accordingly, the increase in the level of the circular economy in Ukraine in the future will be able to positively affect the environmental situation of other countries of the world. But there are lenient administrative penalties and fines for environmental pollution in Ukraine, as well as low environmental fees, which, in turn, does not encourage producers to move to more expensive principles of circular production on the one hand and does not protect against violating government restrictions on the other hand. Besides, the situation with the development of the circular economy in Ukraine is relevant because of the aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, when, due to the destruction of infrastructure, including critical one, there is a very strong shortage of energy resources, in particular during the winter period. The paper proposes to develop and implement in Ukraine a targeted comprehensive program for solid waste management, that should provide the main ways to achieve goals and objectives of after-war circular economy development, including the principles of improving and legal, economic and organizational control mechanisms in Ukraine.