Waste management: the legal aspect

The issue of waste management is very relevant throughout the world. Waste poses a threat to human health and life, biological and landscape diversity, water, soil, air and the global environment. The article examines the legal framework for the collection, treatment, utilization, disposal of waste, and implementation of measures for its reuse. The study analyzes European instruments and national legislation governing waste management. The article examines the European documents that form the basis of waste management legislation: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain directives; Council Directive 1999/31/EC on waste disposal; Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the management of waste from the extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC. European legislation establishes legal measures of waste management aimed at preventing or reducing any negative impacts on land, water, air, biological diversity, habitats and breeding grounds of fauna and landscape diversity, and in general on the global environment, human life and health. The paper analyzes the novelties of national legislation on waste management. It is found that the provisions of the new Law of Ukraine “On Waste Management” are implemented in accordance with the standards of the European Union. The concepts of “waste management” and “landfills” are defined closely to the definitions in the EU directives. The law introduces a new concept of “recycling”. The approval of a waste classifier with specific criteria for classifying waste as hazardous and designations for the type of hazardous impact of waste components and the approval of a national waste list that is close to European standards are positive. The National Waste Management Plan until 2033 was updated and approved, on the basis of which regional and local waste management plans are adopted, taking into account economic, geographical, demographic and other indicators. The formation of new legal and regulatory norms governing the management of waste of various types, including waste arising from military operations, has been confirmed. The dynamics of the development of national legislation in the field of waste management and its approximation to the requirements and standards of the European Union is observed.