Ukraine, 9 June 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with financial support from the Government of Japan and in cooperation with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, has published a new study that assesses the feasibility of establishing a sustainable, market-based system for the recycling and reuse of debris generated due to the full-scale war in Ukraine as part of the country’s recovery and reconstruction.

The findings estimate that around 17.2 million tonnes of such debris had been generated from damaged and destroyed residential buildings in government-controlled areas of Ukraine as of September 2025.

While some of this debris has already been removed and disposed of in landfills, around 11.7 million tonnes remain to be cleared, sorted and processed. Depending on contamination levels, sorting quality, building type and site-specific conditions, up to 70 percent of this remaining debris – some 8.2 million tonnes – could be recycled and reused for reconstruction needs.

The research also identifies 50 construction products that could potentially be produced from recycled debris in Ukraine, including cement, ready-mix concrete and precast concrete products.

The study shows that, with well-organized production of secondary raw materials, recycled materials could be both an environmentally and economically viable resource for reconstruction — particularly in regions with high volumes of debris, higher costs for natural raw materials, and short transport distances to recycling facilities.

The study concludes that private sector engagement, market incentives, and green public procurement will be critical to establishing this market. It also identifies priority actions for 2026–2028, including regulatory changes, the development of standards, investment in infrastructure, and the testing of recycled materials in construction projects.

Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, stressed the critical need to adopt a sustainable approach to debris management in Ukraine. “Secondary raw materials recovered from war-related debris can support the production of construction materials, reduce pressure on natural resources, advance circular practices and contribute to the decarbonization of the construction products industry,” Kuleba said.

“Establishing a system for debris recycling and reuse is therefore a chance to make recovery more sustainable and better aligned with a peaceful future. This study represents an important step in that direction.”

Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, highlighted the importance of acting now to develop a functioning debris recycling and reuse market.

“These findings show that Ukraine has a time-limited opportunity to build a national system for debris management, recycling and reuse,” Lootsma said. “By responding to the vast challenge of war-generated debris today, Ukraine can also lay the foundations for an EU-aligned circular economy approach to construction and demolition waste in the future. This is a unique historic undertaking, and the study proposes a practical pathway to support it.”

Background:

Since February 2022, Ukraine has faced destruction on a scale unprecedented in its modern history. With each new attack, additional debris is generated — often mixed with hazardous materials and explosive remnants — creating a growing barrier to safe and timely recovery.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, UNDP has supported the safe removal and sorting of more than one million tonnes of war-generated debris across eight oblasts of Ukraine, while strengthening institutional capacities and contributing to the development of regulatory frameworks.

Media enquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org