The Concept establishes a national framework to transition the country toward a circular economy by reducing waste generation, increasing recycling, improving monitoring, and modernizing infrastructure. It identifies systemic problems—fragmented legislation, low recycling rates, insufficient infrastructure, unreliable data, weak coordination among authorities, and dominance of landfilling—and proposes a new governance model based on digitalization, economic incentives, and strengthened regulatory mechanisms. A central role is assigned to the creation of a National Waste Management Center within AO “Zhasyl damu”, responsible for comprehensive monitoring, a unified waste inventory system, oversight of extended producer responsibility (EPR), investment attraction, and ensuring full traceability of all waste streams (excluding radioactive waste, which is regulated separately). Across all major waste categories—industrial, municipal, construction, agricultural, electronic, medical, hazardous, and bulky waste—the Concept presents detailed diagnostics and targeted reforms. Industrial waste, dominated by mining and metallurgy, remains the country’s largest problem, with over 53.6 billion tons of accumulated technogenic mineral formations and declining recycling rates. Municipal waste generation exceeds 4.5–5 million tons per year, with only 25.9% recycled in 2024 and major gaps in data accuracy, infrastructure, and public participation. The Concept emphasizes the need for mandatory separate collection, development of recycling capacities (including RDF fuel production), rural–urban differentiated solutions, support for small and medium enterprises, and creation of standards for secondary materials. Special waste streams—such as e waste, medical waste, food waste, and mercury containing waste—are addressed with proposals for improved classification, mandatory digital tracking, expanded EPR, infrastructure renewal, and stronger enforcement. To bring the country’s system in line with OECD and EU best practices, the Concept integrates international experience demonstrating how recycling rates can rise and landfilling can be drastically reduced through standardized regulations, strong EPR systems, landfill taxes, compulsory separate collection, and comprehensive digital monitoring. It outlines a vision for 2030 focused on reducing waste sent to landfills by 10%, increasing the share of industrial waste reused, eliminating illegal dumps, improving environmental culture, and ensuring that top national companies publish sustainability reports. Overall, the Concept sets a roadmap for building a transparent, technologically advanced, and economically viable waste management sector that supports environmental protection, public health, and sustainable economic growth.
Kazakhstan · 2025-12-31