Forum EСOSMART-2013 Became the Starting Point of the Solution of Waste Management, Water Supply and Sanitation Problems in Ukraine-international Experts

Online, June 19, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The first day of the Forum was opened by the Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Oleksandr Sushko, president of the international Solid Waste Association (ISWA) David Newman and Head of the National project "Clean City" Ivan Alekseevets.

David Newman, president of ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) , said in his speech:" Currently the waste industry faces many challenges: population growth, urbanization, climate change. The need to create infrastructure for billions of people from the developing countries shows us that the new system of management and financial resources should be in place already now. The debate on these issues continues around the world, and I note with particular satisfaction that I have the opportunity to discuss these important issues in Kyiv, during one of the most important for the industry events- Forum ECOSMART 2013. Because of the issues raised at this event we can safely say that the Forum is the starting point for the development of industry in Ukraine and neighboring countries"

This year ECOSMART was dedicated to two hot topics: waste management and water resource management in the industrial and services sectors and, therefore, consisted of two international conferences - ECOSMART-2013 WASTE and ECOSMART-2013 WATER.

Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mr. Sushko said that today his Department "is opened to all companies that offer smart innovations for improving the situation with the handling of waste management and water resources in Ukraine.

In particular, the agenda of the first day of the forum was dedicated to the world tendencies of development of the system of waste management, policy and legislation of Ukraine in the field of waste management, treatment of industrial waste, investment projects and attraction of funds in projects in the field of waste management.

"The analysis shows that in Ukraine the dominant technology still remains the polygons solid waste disposal technology, despite the fact that most existing landfills do not meet elementary technological requirements and the requirements of environmental safety, completely exhausted its resource. Ukraine annually produces about 75 million cubic meters of solid waste, recyclable ones only 2-3%, sorted out as recyclable -7-8%, and more than 90% are stored on landfills and dumps. Because of this significant energy potential of MSW is not used,-commented on the situation in the area head of the National project "Clean City" Ivan Alekseevets.

"The ABE company sees the development of prospect of waste management in Ukraine according to European management system of solid waste collection and implementation this system of waste collection, not only in cities but, unlike other foreign investors, also in the communities and villages in Western Ukraine, ensuring thereby the next important step, namely the elimination of the numerous natural landfills and transporting waste to a central ground for further utilization. Thus reduces future landfills reclamation, "said Managing Director of the Austrian AVE Mr. Helmut Burger. AVE in the short term not only became one of the leaders in the area of solid waste in Central and Eastern Europe, but also successfully deploys its work in Ukraine.

The second day covered the following topics: global trends in the management of water resources, policy and legislative framework for the development of water management at the enterprises of Ukraine and CIS countries, innovative solutions and technologies in the field of water supply and sanitation, water resources management at the enterprises of heavy, chemical and food industry, fuel-energy complex.

According to the Director of the Center for business innovation IBCentre and head of the Organizing Committee of the Forum of Julia Berezovski, despite the lack of domestic mechanisms to stimulate recycling and water treatment on the European model, the industry today is extremely attractive.

"One should not be waiting the investment climate to improve and macroeconomic indicators to grow. Resource base of the economy of a number of projects in the sectors of waste management and implementation of more effective solutions in the field of water management in enterprises, as well as those cases that we have seen during the two days of the ECOSMART-2013 and which are directly related to Ukrainian realities suggest that implementation of clean technologies at the enterprises is reasonable and possible today, "said Julia Berezovski.

An important step in solving the problems of waste in Ukraine became the meeting between the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mr. Oleg Proskuryakov and President of ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) Mr. David Newman, which was initiated and organized in the framework of the Forum ECOSMART-2013. During the meeting they discussed possible ways of cooperation and consolidation between the Ministry and the Association and reached first agreements on implementation of joint projects.

The second day of the Forum was opened by Board member of the European Water Association EWA and Director of Institute of water management and the environment Mr. Paul Horton. In his speech the head of EWA, who arrived directly from London, advised to have more comprehensive approach to water resources management policy implementation at all levels in Ukraine.

Also in the framework of the second day of the Forum the Deputy General Director of JSC "Kyivvodokanal" for Legal Issues and Investments Vita Strukova made a speech highlighting the need to settle the legal base of housing and communal services and complex modernization of systems of water supply and sanitation.

"The rational and efficient organization of the process of implementation of new standards, which will allow conducting planned upgrades step by step, requires the coordinated efforts of all the participants in housing. After all, the only way possible to improve the provision of drinking water regulatory quality, direct financial flows on the reform and development of the whole water complex, introduce energy-saving technologies and improve the efficiency and reliability of the water supply and sanitation sector ",-said Ms. Strukova.

Member of the National Commission, which carries out State regulation in the sphere of communal services of Ukraine, Mr. Dmitry Grigoryev made a statement about the difficulties that are faced while dealing with the control of the water sector. In particular, this is absence of separation of profile companies according to technological stages. This does not allow to set the individual rates for each of the services, (preparation, transportation of drinking water, drainage and wastewater treatment). Also there is no opportunity to privatize water supply networks and systems, which are objects of particular importance for the sustenance, and, as a consequence, this prevents stable funding.
According to Dmitry Grigoriev, today it is necessary to improve the tariff regulation of natural monopolies with the transition from the current "cost +" system to incentive regulation.

In general, the Forum has over 150 participants from more than 10 countries. The Forum gathered top-managers, executives and owners of private companies, utilities, suppliers of technologies and equipment, international experts and Government agencies.

The highlight of the Forum ECOSMART-2013 was the seminar "Water technologies and Israel's solutions for Ukraine». During the seminar 9 foreign companies with central offices in Israel presented their achievements and solutions for the water complex of Ukraine. The delegation was led by Mr. Alex Wiznitzer, head of Israel National Water Company "Mekorot". Mr. Itzhak Carmel Kagan, Deputy Chief of the Mission of the Embassy of Israel to Ukraine, officially opened this event. The seminar was held under the patronage of the Embassy of the State of Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Israeli Ministry of economy in partnership with the Institute of Export.

The organizer of the Forum: IBCentre - Innovative Business Center - consulting and research organization that specializes in clean technologies and innovations for industrial sector in Eastern Europe and the CIS countries.

Forum was held with the official support of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in partnership with the International Solid Waste Association, European Water Association, Association " Ukrvodokanalekologiya", Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, EBA, ACC.

The official Edition of the Forum- CleanTech Journal , general media partner - the newspaper "Business".
Sponsor of the ECOSMART-2013 WASTE - the company AVE, a leader in the area of solid waste on the territory of Central and Eastern Europe.