Ecological and legal awareness of citizens in the field of waste management

The article examines the problems of ecological and legal awareness of citizens as an essential factor in the effectiveness of the waste management system in Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to identify the legal and organizational factors influencing the formation of citizens’ ecological and le...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Науковий вісник Ужгородського національного університету. Серія Право Vol. 5; no. 91; pp. 306 - 311
Main Author: Petliuk, Y. S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 22.11.2025
ISSN:2307-3322, 2664-6153
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The article examines the problems of ecological and legal awareness of citizens as an essential factor in the effectiveness of the waste management system in Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to identify the legal and organizational factors influencing the formation of citizens’ ecological and legal awareness in the field of waste management, as well as to develop recommendations for improving the effectiveness of legal regulation in this area. It is determined that modern environmental challenges - in particular, the increasing volume of waste, environmental pollution, and the consequences of military actions – require raising the level of legal awareness and public participation in decision-making on environmentally significant issues. The article analyzes the current legislation of Ukraine in the field of environmental education and access to environmental information, including the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine and the Laws of Ukraine «On Environmental Protection», «On Education», «On Waste Management», «On Environmental Impact Assessment», and «On Strategic Environmental Assessment». It is shown that ecological and legal awareness includes not only knowledge of environmental rights but also the practical ability to exercise them through public control, participation in decision-making, and the development of a culture of responsible environmental behavior. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of legal regulation concerning informing citizens about war-related waste and environmental risks accompanying martial law. It is emphasized that the development of ecological and legal awareness is a necessary condition for the sustainable recovery of the national economy and ensuring the environmental safety of territories affected by hostilities. The article substantiates the need to improve the legal mechanism for public participation in waste management, expand digital platforms of open environmental data, and strengthen the role of environmental education. The positive experience of increasing citizens’ legal awareness within projects aimed at the development of a circular economy is analyzed. It is concluded that the development of ecological and legal awareness should be considered a strategic direction of state policy in the field of sustainable development and circular economy, especially in the context of war and post-war recovery in Ukraine.
ISSN:2307-3322
2664-6153
DOI:10.24144/2307-3322.2025.91.5.44