The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are supporting the western Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi and adjacent villages to modernise their local solid waste management. Around 300,000 residents will benefit from better waste management, cleaner groundwater and improved air quality.

The agreement on a €36.5 million financial package was signed at the EBRD 2020 Annual Meeting today. As part of the investment, the city of Khmelnytskyi is joining the EBRD Green Cities initiative. Under the programme, the city will develop and implement a Green City Action Plan, which will identify, prioritise and address the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.

It is the second solid waste investment in the country jointly financed by the EBRD and the EU. The Bank is providing a loan of up to €28.5 million to municipal utility company Spetskomuntrans, which is collecting, treating and disposing of solid waste in the Khmelnytskyi region.

This is complemented by a €5 million investment grant from the EU, an additional contribution of up to €3 million from the city of Khmelnytskyi, as well as previous technical cooperation funds provided by the EU and Sweden for the preparation of the project.