Stryi’s Environmental Breakthrough: How the NET ZERO Principle United Government and Business 💡

Against the backdrop of global climate challenges and the urgent need for Ukraine’s “green” recovery, the example of the city of Stryi and the company GreenEra has become a true beacon of progress. This is not merely a story of “successful waste management” — it is a demonstration of a unique Ukrainian model of how genuine partnership between government and business can bring both economic benefits and environmental resilience to the community, fully aligning with the NET ZERO (zero CO₂ emissions) principles.

At the invitation of the international non-governmental organization CEE Bankwatch Network, we made a working visit to Stryi to see firsthand how this system operates — a system that has rightfully drawn the attention of all Europe. We were accompanied by Vladlena Marcinkevych, thanks to whom this experience became accessible to a wider audience. What we saw exceeded all expectations.

From a “Landfill Problem” to an “Energy Hub”

The company GreenEra demonstrates a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond traditional waste disposal. At the municipal landfill, we witnessed a functioning model where waste is transformed into a resource and energy, minimizing its impact on the climate.
🔗 GreenEra Services

The Stryi landfill is not just a dumping site — it is an engineered facility. We visited both reclaimed and active sections. A key element of the system is biogas utilization. Methane produced from organic waste decomposition is a potent greenhouse gas. GreenEra’s partner company prevents this methane from entering the atmosphere by capturing and converting it into electricity, which is then distributed to consumers in the Stryi community through its own networks. This is a direct and effective contribution to achieving NET ZERO goals.

Additionally, solar power plants (SPPs) have been installed on-site, generating clean energy and confirming the community’s commitment to energy independence.

One of the most powerful components of the system is large-scale composting of organic waste. This not only reduces the volume of waste reaching the landfill (and, consequently, biogas emissions) but also transforms it into valuable soil and fertilizer. A resource that would otherwise become a pollutant is thus returned to the economic cycle.

A newly built sorting plant, developed by another GreenEra partner, acts as the high-tech “heart” of the system. Its goal is to extract as many valuable fractions (glass, plastic, paper, metal) as possible for further recycling. The fewer resources are buried, the more money the community saves — and the smaller its environmental footprint becomes.

GreenEra also organizes the separate collection of hazardous waste, such as batteries and fluorescent lamps. This demonstrates a high level of environmental responsibility and proves that the company operates not merely to comply with regulations but to ensure community safety.

The Formula of Stryi’s Success: Leadership, Enthusiasm, and Partnership

What distinguishes Stryi from many other Ukrainian regions is not just technology, but a unique model of cooperation between the municipality and private business.

This partnership is built on:

• Leadership by local officials and experts who were bold enough to invest in long-term green solutions.

• Active engagement of citizens and NGOs who support waste sorting and monitor the process.

• GreenEra’s example showing that environmental business can be both profitable and socially responsible, operating in close coordination with municipal authorities.

Such synergy ensures the sustainability of the system: the government sets transparent rules, business invests in technology, and the community adheres to proper waste-sorting practices.

Thanks to this successful cooperation, the landfill also partially helps relieve the waste burden from Lviv, located 70 km away — a practical and economically sound solution. It is simply more efficient for Lviv to pay Stryi and GreenEra for waste processing.

Why Stryi’s Experience Matters for All of Ukraine

The success of Stryi is not just a local story — it holds strategic value for national policy. Real, working models like this one are crucial for shaping evidence-based strategies in sustainability, innovation, and circular economy.

Key insights we take into our work:

1. The GreenEra model is an example of successful cooperation that must be documented and scaled. Collecting such cases helps us develop solid, data-driven policy recommendations.

2. The Stryi case shows that national waste management plans should be aligned with the real capacities, needs, and proven achievements of local communities — not the other way around.

This analytical work is part of our participation in the Interreg NET ZERO SMEs project, which focuses on transferring best practices and reducing import dependence through local green solutions.

We sincerely thank CEE Bankwatch Network, Vladlena Marcinkevych, and the PARASOL project for making this exchange possible and for their ongoing support in helping communities find the best pathways toward sustainable recovery.

The Stryi case is a ready-to-replicate, functioning example for all Ukrainian communities striving for fair and green reconstruction. It proves that everything is possible where there is will, innovation, and trust between partners.

Your experience is part of Ukraine’s new sustainable policy!

💬 Commented by Ruslan Shcherbakov

#EcoIndustrialParks #NETZEROSMEs #JustTransition #SustainableDevelopment #RCERBS #GreenInvestments #EnergyEfficiency #WasteManagement