NAEIU has called for the resumption of consideration of the law on waste in the extractive industry

The National Association of the Extractive Industry of Ukraine (NAEIU) has appealed to Oleg Bondarenko, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Use, regarding the need to revisit the draft law on waste management in the extractive industry. In a letter dated April 6, 2026, the association emphasizes that this issue is of fundamental importance both for environmental policy and for the operations of subsoil users.

The document notes that draft law No. 12180 was rejected in the first reading on June 4, 2025, even though it was developed to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with EU law. Specifically, it concerns the implementation of the provisions of Directive 2006/21/EC on the management of waste from the extractive industries and amendments to Directive 2004/35/EC.

NAEIU emphasizes that the adoption of such a law was required not only by Ukraine’s obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU, but also by the National Security and Defense Council’s decision of March 23, 2021, regarding challenges and threats to national security in the environmental sphere, as well as the National Waste Management Plan through 2030. In addition, the issue of drafting and adopting a law on waste from the extractive industry is also enshrined in the National Program for the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to EU Law, approved by a Cabinet of Ministers resolution dated April 1, 2026, with a deadline for implementation set for December 2027.

The statement emphasizes that a balanced regulatory framework in this sector will help resolve several issues at once. These include the accumulated environmental risks posed by significant volumes of such waste, as well as the need to clearly distinguish between actual waste and byproducts of mining companies’ technological processes. The industry believes this will allow businesses to legally use and sell materials that can be reintroduced into economic circulation.

As a reminder, in late 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law on the creation of a National Register of Industrial Emissions and Pollutant Transfers.

Shortly before that, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Ukraine’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-2) under the Paris Agreement. The document calls for a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030—to 35% of 1990 levels. To achieve this, Ukraine will require annual funding of nearly $10 billion.

In June 2022, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and as a whole draft law No. 2207-1-d “On Waste Management.”