D2R Workshop: key barriers and skills needs

The need for a systemic approach to managing construction and demolition waste is growing in Ukraine, as it remains one of the key challenges in the country’s recovery process. This issue was at the core of the seminar “Skills Gaps in Construction and Demolition Waste Management”, which brought together representatives of local communities and industry experts.

The event took place on February 25, 2026, as part of the Debris2Resources (D2R) project, implemented with the support of the European Union’s LIFE Programme. The workshop served as a platform to discuss practical challenges and identify key needs for developing professional competencies in the field.

Representatives from the Irpin, Borodianka, and Velyka Dymerka communities shared their hands-on experience in dismantling damaged buildings, sorting materials, and exploring solutions for their reuse. These practical cases demonstrated that despite ongoing initiatives, systemic barriers continue to hinder the scaling of effective approaches.

Particular attention during the seminar was given to the results of a survey conducted among professionals and stakeholders involved in construction and demolition waste management. The study helped identify both regulatory constraints and critical skills gaps in construction and demolition waste management.

Among the key challenges highlighted by participants:

• insufficient funding for demolition works;
• limited access to specialized equipment;
• gaps in budget legislation, particularly regarding the inclusion of recycled materials in construction cost estimates;
• lack of knowledge of modern methodologies for transforming demolition waste into secondary resources.

The survey results also point to a need for additional expertise in areas such as recycling financial models, regulation of construction waste, and material management across all stages of the lifecycle.

As a next step, the project will focus on developing training materials and creating an open knowledge base. These tools are expected to strengthen professional capacity and support the integration of circular economy principles into Ukraine’s reconstruction processes.