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Of the total volume of waste in Uzbekistan, more than 10% is plastic, and there is not enough capacity for complete recycling — Ministry of Ecology
The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, together with the Center for Assistance to Sustainable Development, conducted an inventory of plastic waste in the country as part of the project "Plastic Waste in Remote and Mountainous Areas", the press service of the Ministry of Ecology reported.
The project is being implemented with the support of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions - international agreements aimed at protecting the environment and human health from hazardous chemicals and waste.
Plastic is popular due to its durability and low cost, it is widely used in areas from packaging and textiles to construction and medicine. However, its durability and resistance to decomposition have caused a growing environmental crisis, the report notes.
In Uzbekistan, the problem of plastic waste is exacerbated by rapid economic growth, urbanization, and the development of industries that use plastic.
Inventorying plastic waste is one of the key tools for assessing the state and developing waste management strategies. “The inventory made it possible to assess the volume of plastic entering the market, the ways of its use and recycling, as well as the scale of waste generation. This process has become an important tool for analyzing the situation and developing long-term waste management strategies,” the Ministry of Ecology noted.
The results of the study showed a significant increase in the volume of plastic used in the economy of Uzbekistan. The packaging sector remains the largest consumer of plastic. In 2022, its share was 22.1% of the total volume of plastic entering the market. The transport sector ranks second with a share of 24.9%, and the construction sector is third with 22.2%. These three industries consume more than 69% of all plastic in the country. One of the key reasons for this distribution is the wide range of applications of plastic: from disposable packaging and transport components to durable building materials.
Along with the growth in the use of plastic, the volume of waste is also increasing. In 2022, the amount of plastic waste reached 249.2 thousand tons, which is 147% more than in 2013. The main source of waste remains packaging, the share of which in the total volume is 192.1 thousand tons. This is due to the short service life of packaging materials, which are most often thrown away immediately after use. At the same time, waste in the transport and construction sectors is growing more slowly, since plastic products in these industries have a long service life.
In Uzbekistan, 10.2 million tons of solid municipal waste are generated annually, 10.3% of which (1.05 million tons) is plastic waste.
Almost every region of the republic has enterprises producing plastic products, including tableware and bags. Plastic products, including polyethylene bags, are widely used among the population of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Ecology noted.
In addition, the import of plastic products into the country significantly exceeds exports and in 2023 amounted to 158.5 thousand tons worth 487.5 million dollars. Exports of plastic goods from Uzbekistan in 2023 amounted to 47.3 thousand tons worth 90.1 million dollars.
At the same time, the share of plastic imports in 2023 increased by 54.6% compared to 2020.
The inventory revealed a number of systemic problems that hinder the effective management of plastic waste, the Ministry of Ecology noted.
Firstly, the recycling infrastructure in the country requires development. The presence of a limited number of recycling plants reduces the possibility of effective waste disposal, especially key polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Secondly, the lack of a separate waste collection system significantly complicates the effective use of the existing capacities of recycling plants. Low environmental awareness among the population exacerbates the problem: many people are not sufficiently informed about the importance of waste sorting and the negative consequences of plastic pollution, the Ministry of Ecology emphasized.
The department noted that the effective management of plastic waste requires infrastructure development. Increasing the number of recycling plants, especially for polyethylene, polypropylene and PET, will significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills and increase the economic profitability of recycling.
The development of a separate waste collection system will improve the quality of recyclable raw materials, reduce sorting costs and speed up the recycling process, the Ministry of Ecology noted.
In addition, it is also necessary to conduct educational campaigns aimed at raising the environmental culture of the population. This may include both information programs and practical initiatives, such as waste sorting programs in schools and businesses.
As noted in the report, it is also necessary to improve the legislative framework:
introduction of mandatory quotas for plastic recycling and restrictions on the use of disposable products;
gradual ban on the production and import of plastic products and containers, especially those containing various harmful chemicals and dyes;
introduction of a system of extended obligations of manufacturers and importers;
incentives for manufacturers and importers producing environmentally friendly goods (biodegradable, paper, knitted, cotton, etc.), replacing plastic goods and containers.
Creation of favorable conditions for investors in the processing industry, as noted in the Ministry of Ecology, will allow the development of the sphere and the introduction of advanced technologies.
The department noted that Uzbekistan is taking measures to improve the situation: separate waste collection is being introduced, restrictions on the production and use of certain types of plastic are being introduced, and recycling capacities are being developed.
The results of the inventory of plastic waste will be uploaded to the official website of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions: https://www.brsmeas.org/
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