«We have to develop rules that will satisfy everyone»: Sienkevych urged MPs to be more actively involved in the development of the terms of the tender for the sorting line

An existing landfill near Mykolaiv. Photo: archive NikVesti

Only one deputy joined the working group to prepare new terms of the tender for the construction of a sorting line at the city landfill. The mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, has called on the deputies to get more involved.

This became known during a session of the Mykolaiv City Council on 11 September, according to NikVesti.

At the previous meeting on 4 September, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych proposed that the heads of factions and deputies submit lists of those wishing to join the working group to the council office. It will also include relevant officials responsible for drafting decisions.

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«At the last plenary session, I asked the city council members to apply to the council office within 10 working days to declare their willingness to participate in the group's work on creating new conditions for holding a tender for the sorting line. As of today, no applications have been received by the council office», said Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych.

Afterwards, the council office corrected the mayor, noting that one application had indeed been received from MP Oleksandr Bereza. Oleksandr Sienkevych urged other deputies to be more active and send their proposals for a new competition.

«I ask you to send your applications in electronic form or in any other form to develop the competition conditions for the competition, the results of which we did not approve because someone or something did not suit them. We have to develop rules that will satisfy everyone, approve them at the session and hold the competition. Because the fact that we did not approve the previous tender did not make the garbage from our landfill disappear», the mayor added.

Sorting line in Mykolaiv: how the tender went

The issue of waste sorting in Mykolaiv was raised back in 2019, when the need for two lines was estimated at around 10 million hryvnias. At the time, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych insisted that the costs should be borne by investors, not the city budget. Although a waste management programme was adopted, it was never implemented.

The Supreme Court ruled that the city council's inaction was unlawful and ordered the construction of a sorting line, as the landfill, which had been operating since 1972, had exhausted its resources.

In 2024, the deputies approved the procedure for the operation of the solid waste sorting facility and announced an investment tender. The first failed, and the second was won by «Waste To Energy Niko». However, the company received only the minimum required score, and the deputies and the head of the RMA Vitalii Kim criticised the closed procedure and unfavourable conditions.

Law enforcement officers opened proceedings and searched the city council. At the session on 28 August, the deputies did not support the approval of the contract with the winner. The city authorities are preparing new tender conditions. Sienkiewicz said the process would be public, involving international partners, including Denmark.

See also the NikVesti article: «How Mykolaiv wants to start sorting waste».