Legislative innovations in the field of agricultural waste management

The article is devoted to the legislative innovations of Ukraine in the field of agricultural waste management. The relevance of this study is due to the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine “On Waste Management” of June 20, 2022, which, based on the principles of EU law, introduces an updated regulatory model in the sphere of waste management, in particular in agriculture. This regulatory act establishes the legal, organizational, and economic foundations for waste management activities aimed at minimizing waste generation, reducing the negative impact on the environment and human health, as well as preparing waste for reuse, recycling, and recovery. The implementation of this Law requires the adaptation of current agricultural legislation to modern environmental standards and new approaches to the handling of agricultural waste. The purpose of the article is to carry out a scientific and theoretical analysis of the procedure for managing agricultural waste in the context of the provisions of the updated waste legislation. Special attention is paid to the unification of terminology between agricultural and environmental law. The article analyzes the legal categories of “waste management” and “waste handling,” which, despite some changes, remain practically synonymous in content but reflect different aspects of legal regulation. The research results confirm that the category of waste producers includes both entrepreneurial (agricultural commodity producers) and non-entrepreneurial subjects (individuals and owners of private peasant farms). However, the legal status of the latter remains unsettled. It is established that agricultural entities are obliged to comply with the waste management hierarchy, develop relevant plans, submit declarations, and ensure the safe storage of waste. The article separately analyzes the requirements for independent waste processing, the need for obtaining permits, and the application of experimental procedures. The conclusions emphasize the necessity of modernizing agricultural legislation, adapting it to the latest environmental standards, unifying legal terminology, and ensuring effective legal regulation of agricultural waste management in line with European practices.