Oleksii Abasov: Waste, Europe and Ukraine’s Future: A Choice That Cannot Be Delayed

Certain sectors expose the true maturity of a state. Waste management is one of them. Waste cannot be postponed, rebranded, or hidden behind political narratives. It accumulates wherever institutions fail.

That is why waste reform in Ukraine is not a marginal environmental issue. It is a strategic test of governance, credibility, and European alignment.

In times of war and reconstruction, the temptation of quick solutions is strong. Large-scale waste incineration often appears efficient and decisive. Yet strategically, it locks countries into outdated systems and undermines long-term sustainability.

The European model is more demanding. It requires regulation, transparency, digital oversight, and institutional discipline. But it is precisely these requirements that create trust, attract capital, and build industries rather than temporary fixes.

AI and digital technologies are central to this transition. Without real-time monitoring, traceability, and transparency, waste reform cannot attract serious investment.

Ukraine now faces a choice that cannot be postponed.
Delay is itself a decision — one that favors stagnation over transformation.

Waste reform is not about garbage.
It is about Ukraine’s future in Europe.

Oleksii  Abasov, entrepreneur