PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Abstract

The article explores the content, specifics, and contemporary challenges of public administration of household waste management services in Ukraine. Waste management is a key element of the state’s environmental policy and an integral part of sustainable development for local communities. In the context of Ukraine’s European integration, the adaptation of national legislation to the requirements of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste is of particular importance. This directive outlines modern approaches to waste management, including the hierarchy of operations, waste minimization, and the enhancement of recycling and reuse rates.

Public administration in the provision of household waste management services encompasses the activities of local government bodies, central executive authorities, municipal enterprises, and private market operators, which operate within the framework of delegated powers and contracts. Key elements of this process include planning the waste management system, determining the service provider, setting tariffs, ensuring the quality of services, and ensuring transparent and competitive procurement procedures. Special attention is given to the institutional capacity of local communities, which, in line with the decentralization reform, have gained new powers in waste management.

The author emphasizes that the problems in this sector are related to insufficient infrastructure development, low recycling rates, the dominance of landfill burial, the lack of an effective waste sorting system, and the imperfection of state control mechanisms and cooperation between management entities. At the same time, there is an increasing need for the implementation of modern digital services, environmental monitoring, and mechanisms for public participation, which improve transparency and accountability in this sector.

It is concluded that enhancing the effectiveness of public administration of household waste management services is possible only through comprehensive reform: improving legal regulation, developing recycling infrastructure, enhancing the capacity of government bodies, and promoting ecological behavior among the population. This will bring Ukraine's waste management system closer to European standards and ensure an environmentally safe environment for citizens.