Waste from destroyed and damaged housing could become a source of raw material for Ukraine’s reconstruction. A study prepared by UNDP in Ukraine with support from Japan assesses how debris can be sorted, processed and reused in construction products.
The scale is significant. Experts estimate that millions of tonnes of waste have formed on government-controlled territory because of damage to residential buildings. A large part still needs to be cleared, sorted and processed.
Circular economy for rebuilding
The study concludes that, with the right sorting and recycling system, up to seventy percent of such materials could return to the construction cycle. This could reduce pressure on landfills and natural resources while giving the building industry an additional source of raw material.
Potential applications include cement, ready-mix concrete and precast concrete structures. For a country facing massive reconstruction needs, this is not only an environmental issue, but also an industrial one.
To scale the approach, Ukraine will need clearer regulations, standards for secondary raw materials, investment in recycling infrastructure, private sector involvement and green public procurement mechanisms. If these pieces come together, demolition waste can shift from being a burden of war to a practical resource for rebuilding.
