The Western Bug River is the natural border between Ukraine, Poland, and Belarus, carrying waters to the Baltic Sea. Despite its picturesque beauty, this river suffers from pollution.

«Our community has a large thermal power plant, and its industrial waste affects the Western Bug. Also, like most Ukrainian communities, Dobrotvir faces the acute problem of indiscriminate waste dumping», says Taras Keleberda, the Dobrotvir Mayor.

Therefore, environmental safety has become a strategic goal for the community. The community aims to protect the health and well-being of its residents and align with European Union environmental policies. Despite the environmental tax and efforts to plant trees, clean up illegal dumps, and reconstruct sewage systems, these measures were insufficient to address the problem.

Earlier, Dobrotvir began seeking international opportunities. Together with a Polish partner—the Dorohychyn municipality—they applied for the Interreg NEXT Poland-Ukraine 2021-2027 program.

Although the communities are located 300 kilometers apart, they are united by the Western Bug River. Together, they developed the "Clean Bug" project, which includes purchasing garbage trucks and establishing 18 waste sorting sites, among other initiatives.

The two communities wrote a quality application, won the competition, and attracted an investment project worth one million euros! The USAID HOVERLA Activity provided support during training sessions to help perfect the application.  

«We decided to organize a large cleanup where all communities along the riverbank would clean up the shoreline. For their part, the Poles would clean up the water surface. Our Polish colleagues also proposed setting up an ecology study classroom in schools and organizing educational picnics», shares Iryna Nikitina, Head of the Economic Development and Cross-Border Cooperation Department of the Dobrotvir Village Council.

The two communities further plan to study the best waste management practices and conduct an information campaign to reach out to residents: distribute books, brochures, and posters and teach children waste management.

«We will collect the waste that can be recycled. This new project involves a potential investor who will sort, compress, and sell plastic, glass, paper, and organic waste, creating new jobs. This comprehensive project is the first step toward addressing a huge problem, even on a national scale», emphasizes Mayor Keleberda.

As part of the project, a park featuring plants native to Dobrotvir will be established. This will help achieve the community’s goal of transforming the Western Bug into a comfortable living environment for residents and a tourist and sports magnet for the entire country and beyond.