Kazakhstan to Address Inadequacies in Waste Disposal System through Strategy by September
"Get Ready for Waste Management Revolution in Kazakhstan!"
That's the vibe Ablai Almukhanov, deputy director of Kazakhstan's Waste Management Department, is tossing out there. He spilled the beans to The Astana Times, revealing the country's keen focus on revamping its waste management system by September.
The nation's landfills number around 3,000, but only a fifth meet environmental standards. A mouthful of stats, hey? But here's the kicker: in 2024, only a measly 26% of Kazakhstan's annual 4.5 million tons of municipal waste was recycled. Falling woefully short of their 30% government target.
Almukhanov’s message? It’s time to raise that recycling game!
So, what’s the plan? By September, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources aims to cook up a comprehensive strategy that zeroes in on the nitty-gritty of the waste management scene. The strategy will shake things up by identifying strengths and weaknesses, outlining the path forward, and offering a fresh take on how to handle all kinds of waste.
Plastic, We've Got a Problem
It’s no secret that plastic is a pain in our planet’s backside. And in Kazakhstan, it's a whopping 10% of their plastic waste that's getting recycled, with the rest heading straight for landfills or waste incineration. Ouch.
But fear not, Almukhanov’s not a quitter. He’s promised a greener future and by 2030, the target's 40%. Tall order, right?
So, why the slow burn in recycling rates? Well, it comes down to money, honey. Low economic attractiveness and current tariffs not covering the real costs of waste management enterprises are major roadblocks.
To mend that mess, in March, the government proposed a public-private partnership as the solution du jour. The idea: introducing an economically attractive tariff for the management of municipal solid waste, with any cost difference being reimbursed by national utilization payments to the private partner.
To keep the ball rolling, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is also doling out preferential financing since 2024. This supports enterprises engaged in waste recycling, sorting, and transportation with sweet 3% loans through the Industrial Development Fund.
Listening to the folks who know their waste, Almukhanov revealed that investors are buzzing with excitement about this preferential financing program. Over 67 projects valued at 316.9 billion tenge (US$617.7 million) have been approved by the ministry and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. Forty-three projects specifically target waste recycling, with potential to boost the nation's recycling capacity by 1.1 million tons.
Government Backing
The EcoQoldau program, which resumed operations in 2024, is another government-backed initiative. It dishes out financial compensation to enterprises involved in waste recycling, sorting, and processing. In 2025, 9.2 billion tenge (US$17.9 million) will be set aside for this mission.
Plot Twist: Deep-set Problems
But the light at the end of the tunnel isn't without its curveballs. Almukhanov has voiced concerns about a fragmented approach to waste policy in Kazakhstan. Waste types, such as construction waste and medical waste, are managed by multiple agencies, causing confusion and inefficiency in waste management.
Thankfully, this new strategy aims to remedy that by redirecting efforts to overlooked waste streams—whether it's solid waste, construction waste, or industrial waste. Because, as Almukhanov put it, reducing waste sent to landfills ispriority numero uno.
After all, he notes, waste is still valuable and can be treated as secondary raw materials.
Boom Time for Recycling
The global recycling industry is booming and, by 2029, the market for plastic recycling alone is set to zoom from $42.4 billion to $57.9 billion. So, Kazakhstan's jumping on board, with a let's-minimize-waste-and-promote-a-zero-waste-mentality approach.
Check out The Astana Times for more on Kazakhstan's recycling revolution: four essential steps before recycling—refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose—are key, followed by recycling itself.
Oh, and did we mention those 3,000 landfills? Only 20% of them comply with environmental standards, with over 1,000 illegal dumps reported in 2024 alone.
Community Action Taking Flight
While governmental policies take their sweet time, activists are making waves by fostering community action. The Darmarka events in Almaty, launched in 2017, serve as a platform for donating used goods and recycling responsibly.
By fostering eco-friendlier lifestyles and encouraging sustainable habits, organizers believe small steps prevailingly add up to bigger, greener actions. So, keep those recyclables coming!
Sources:1. The Astana Times, 2023-05-15.2. Khabar 24, 2023-04-19.3. Akorda, 2023-04-04.4. Kazinform, 2022-10-28.5. 24.kz, 2023-04-28.
- In Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is working diligently to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve the waste management system by September 2025, aimed at raising the recycling rate and managing different waste streams effectively.
- Discussions around policy and legislation in Astana have highlighted the urgent need to address the recycling requirements, with current rates falling far behind the 30% government target, as only 26% of municipal waste was recycled in 2024.
- The government recognizes the need to invest in the recycling industry, and as a result, in 2024, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources began offering preferential financing for enterprises involved in waste recycling, sorting, and transportation, with a roadmap targeting a 40% recycling rate by 2030.
- To augment these efforts, public-private partnerships are being proposed to make waste management enterprises more economically attractive and compensate for the differences in costs not covered by current tariffs.
- Meanwhile, environmental science plays a crucial role in driving the recycling revolution, with increased education and awareness about the science of recycling and waste management essential for fostering sustainable community action and reducing waste sent to landfills.
