Turning Trash into Power: EU Lessons and Ukraine's Energy Prospects

From Waste to Watts: How Ukraine Can Learn from EU Energy Practices

According to ХВИЛЯ: Yevhen Barakh, owner of a waste processing plant in Zhytomyr, shared insights from the European Union's experience in using refuse as an energy resource and detailed the operations of his facility, which specializes in producing alternative fuel. In Scandinavian nations, a significant demand for imported waste highlights a shortage of material that can be converted into energy. This approach is part of a broader European shift toward a circular economy, where waste is viewed as a valuable commodity.

According to Barakh, Poland prohibits the export of its highest-quality waste.

"When we talk about neighboring Poland... the highest-quality waste, which provides the greatest calorific value and thus better heat... they keep exclusively for themselves," he noted.

Polish companies collect this waste, sort it, shred it, and partially dry it for subsequent use in energy production.

Manufacturing SRF Fuel in Ukraine

The Zhytomyr plant produces Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), an alternative fuel derived from waste. To increase the calorific value of this fuel, plastic and old clothing are added.

"We select plastic, and we add a certain proportion of plastic... to the composition of our SRF so that it adds calorific value," Barakh explained.

Furthermore, old clothing is also used in the SRF mixture, preventing it from ending up in landfills.

The SRF production process is monitored by technologists to ensure emission standards are not exceeded. This fuel is then burned in cement plants, meeting the industry's energy needs. Reflecting a growing trend, two more plants with such furnaces are scheduled to open this year.

"We also sort, separating organic material from everything else to increase the calorific value of our SRF fuel, which is subsequently burned in cement plants," he added.

Thus, Ukraine has promising prospects for developing technologies to convert waste into alternative fuel, which could help address waste management issues and contribute to energy independence. For a nation rebuilding its infrastructure, this offers a path to both cleaner energy and reduced landfill use.

Ukraine's use of waste as an energy source represents a significant step toward sustainable development and environmental safety. Supporting such projects would not only improve the ecological situation but also create new jobs in the waste processing sector. Drawing on European experience, Ukraine has the opportunity to integrate modern technologies into its energy infrastructure, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.