Pervomaisk is still using a «temporary» landfill site: the new one has never been built

Solid waste landfill near Mykolaiv. Illustrative photo from the NikVesti archive

In Pervomaisk, the project to build a new landfill site, which was drawn up over ten years ago, no longer meets modern requirements and needs updating. At present, the community is still taking its waste to a site that was intended to be temporary.

This is stated in the Waste Management Programme of the Pervomaisk City Territorial Community for 2026–2030.

The document notes that the city continues to use the temporary solid waste landfill on Bohopilska Street. Although it was intended to be used for just one year, it has been in operation for many years. The location of the landfill was approved by a decision of the executive committee back in 2000.

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«Since the temporary MSW landfill (on Bohopilska Street in Pervomaisk) began operations, 736,275 tonnes of waste have already been disposed of. The landfill was designated as temporary, which meant it was intended to be operated for only one year, but this period has been significantly exceeded,» the document states.

It should be noted that this site is located 500 metres east of the town of Pervomaisk, near the H-24 Blahovishchenske–Mykolaiv (formerly R-06), and has a total area of 3.8 hectares, a production capacity of 526,000 m³, and an annual storage volume of 12,700 m³.

«Among the existing problems that have a negative impact on the natural environment, is the constant increase in solid domestic waste, which is transported to a temporary landfill site that is operating at full capacity and is a potential source of air and groundwater pollution, as the leachate is practically not treated,» the document states.

Back in 2012, the city allocated a plot of land covering more than 4 hectares on the site of the former filtration fields of the juice canning factory for the construction of a new landfill. A design was developed for the site, which received a positive conclusion from the state expert review and a permit to carry out construction work. However, as of early 2026, construction had still not begun.

The document notes that the project is now obsolete, and the construction costs included in it do not correspond to current prices.

To address the issue, the city authorities plan to carry out an inventory of existing waste storage sites by 2030, assess their environmental impact, and cease operations at the temporary landfill on Bohopilska Street, followed by its reclamation.

In addition, the Programme provides for the construction of a new solid waste landfill between 2026 and 2030. There are also plans to establish facilities for waste sorting and processing, separate waste collection centres, and transfer stations, as well as to secure international funding for the implementation of these projects.

List of tasks and measures of the Programme and performance indicators. Screenshot of the document

List of the Programme’s tasks and measures and performance indicators. Screenshot of the document

The city council acknowledges that the lack of a modern landfill site that meets legal requirements remains one of the community’s main environmental problems. According to the programme, 25 unauthorised rubbish dumps were cleared in the community during 2025.

It should be recalled that in 2023, there was talk in Pervomaisk of plans to build a new landfill site. It was planned to be built between 2024 and 2025, but the project was not implemented. A total of 25.8 million hryvnias was required for these measures.

It should be noted that as far back as 2011, the then head of Pervomaisk, Liudmyla Dromashko, announced plans to open a new solid waste landfill site.