Kazakhstan to develop holistic waste management strategy by September

KAZAKHSTAN – The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan is set to unveil a comprehensive waste management plan by September, aiming to address persistent inefficiencies and broaden the scope of recycling initiatives across the country.

According to Ablai Almukhanov, Deputy Director of the Ministry’s Waste Management Department, the upcoming strategy will provide a detailed analysis of current practices, identify gaps, and outline clear future directions.

Kazakhstan generates over 4.5 million tonnes of municipal waste annually, yet only 26% was recycled in 2024—falling short of the national target of 30%.

The country aims to boost this figure to 40% by 2030, in line with its green economy transition goals. However, low economic incentives and outdated tariffs have hindered progress.

Since the 2021 Environmental Code reform, local governments (maslikhats) are required to revise tariffs to reflect real costs.

As of March 2024, only 155 out of 211 districts and cities had implemented changes. Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev proposed a public-private solution where economically viable tariffs would be reimbursed to private waste operators using national recycling funds.

To accelerate progress, the ministry introduced preferential financing in 2024, offering 3% interest loans through the Industrial Development Fund, backed by Zhasyl Damu.

This initiative supports businesses in waste sorting, transportation, and recycling. Already, 67 projects worth 316.9 billion tenge (US$617.7 million) have been approved, with 43 specifically targeting recycling. These could increase the national recycling capacity by 1.1 million tonnes.

The EcoQoldau program has also resumed, offering financial compensation for collected and recycled polymer waste.

In 2025, 9.2 billion tenge (US$17.9 million) has been allocated for this purpose, with payments exceeding 71,000 tenge (US$139) per ton.

The new strategy also aims to fix the fragmented oversight of waste categories. Construction, medical, agricultural, and industrial wastes are currently regulated by different ministries. Almukhanov stressed the need for a unified policy to manage underdeveloped waste streams.

Kazakhstan produces about one billion tons of industrial waste annually, with mining and quarrying contributing 70%.

Between 2022 and 2024, fines totaling 14.3 billion tenge (US$27.9 million) were issued for waste management violations.

While only 20% of Kazakhstan’s 3,000 landfills meet environmental standards, over 1,000 illegal dumps were reported in 2024. Space-based monitoring by national space agency Garysh Sapary helps track illegal disposal.

Meanwhile, grassroots movements are gaining momentum. Initiatives like Darmarka in Almaty promote responsible recycling, while eco-trainers and influencers like Mariyam Kassymova and Aida Alimbekova advocate behavioral science-based approaches—making sustainability fun, easy, attractive, social, and timely (FEAST).

Experts emphasize the need for early environmental education to instill lifelong sustainable habits and ensure that waste reduction becomes a natural choice for future generations.

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