In the fall of 2025, the Zaporizhzhia City Territorial Community conducted its first study of the composition of household waste. Such studies provide a realistic picture of waste generation: what exactly ends up in the bins, in what proportions, and what portion of the waste could potentially be reused rather than landfilled.
The study was conducted by the NGO “Zero Waste ZP” in accordance with the Methodological Recommendations for Determining the Morphological Composition of Household Waste, approved in 2024.
How the study was conducted
Morphological analysis is not a rough estimate. Waste is collected directly from containers, weighed, measured by volume, and sorted into separate fractions: biowaste, various types of plastic, paper and cardboard, glass, metals, textiles, bulky waste, construction and demolition waste, hazardous waste, and so on.
In Zaporizhzhia, the container method was used. Sampling was conducted along three routes covering different types of buildings and sources of waste generation:
Route 1 – apartment buildings: 600 kg of mixed waste, 7.84 m³, accumulation period – 2 days.
Route 2 – private sector: 600 kg of waste, 6.94 m³, accumulation period – 7 days.
Route 3 – businesses, institutions, organizations: 300 kg of waste, 5.49 m³, accumulation period – 7 days.
What the results showed
By volume, the following items take up the most space in the containers:
- biowaste – 41.1%;
- plastic – 20.7%, of which PET bottles account for 15.3% of the volume;
- paper and cardboard – 8.39%.
Plastic and packaging are lightweight but quickly fill the containers, meaning the collection system is effectively transporting “air” if the waste is not compacted.
The picture is different by weight:
- biowaste accounts for 57.1% of the total weight;
- plastic – 6.75%;
- paper and cardboard – 2.81%.
This shows why waste management cannot be based solely on weight metrics.
The following require special attention:
- bulky and construction waste, which should not end up in regular containers and often accumulates near collection sites for months;
- mixed packaging and textiles, which are almost impossible to recycle;
- hazardous and electronic waste, which accounts for a small proportion but poses a significant risk to the environment and health;
- metals and glass, which are easily separated and have recycling potential.
Loss of resources as early as the collection stage
Research findings show that a significant portion of potential recyclable materials loses its value already during collection, when mixed with organic waste. Sorting at landfills, a common practice, is largely ineffective. The cleaner and more homogeneous the raw material, the greater the likelihood that it will actually be recycled.
What Should Be a Priority for the City
Using national average data for community-level planning leads to misguided decisions. Morphological analysis allows for identifying real priorities and investing resources where the impact will be greatest.
Based on the findings of the first season of the study, experts highlight several key areas.
Reducing waste generation
Awareness campaigns can yield results even without significant investment. The focus should be on reducing consumption, reusing items, choosing reusable over disposable products, minimizing packaging, and recycling materials through local collection points. Residents, businesses, and the government must all participate in this effort.
Specific solutions for bio-waste
Organic waste is the largest fraction in the waste stream. Composting garden and food waste can reduce the burden on landfills and produce a useful byproduct. Among the first steps are supporting home and community composting and centralized management of green waste.
Sorting is not the only solution
The mass implementation of sorting without preparation and an understanding of the system’s limitations requires significant funds and does not guarantee a reduction in landfilling. Some of the sorted materials still end up back in the mixed waste stream.
Focus on bottles and cans
Plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans are easily identifiable, have established recycling chains, and account for a significant portion of waste volume. A promising solution is a deposit-return system (DRS), for which the legislative framework is currently being developed.
Infrastructure for bulky and construction waste
Even temporary solutions—mobile collection points, special collection days, and a clear map of locations—can prevent the formation of backyard “mini-dumps.”
Landfills—for the remainder, not the primary model
A morphological analysis shows that the waste management system begins not at the landfill, but in the yard and in residents’ everyday decisions. The NGO “Zaporizhzhia Without Trash” collects data, transforms it into clear conclusions, and promotes solutions that actually reduce landfilling and conserve resources.
The document was prepared within the framework of the Impulse Project implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the East Europe Foundation with funding from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida). The contents do not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation, the East Europe Foundation, the Government of Norway and the Government of Sweden.
