Plastic waste is one of the most acute environmental problems of our time, affecting both local ecosystems and global efforts for sustainable development. Kazakhstan, like many countries, is facing a growing volume of plastic waste, which poses significant challenges to environmental safety.
Within the framework of the regional project "Plastic waste in remote and mountainous regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan", implemented by the Center for Assistance to Sustainable Development (https://csd-center.org /) with the support of the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), a large-scale inventory of plastic waste was carried out from 2013 to 2022. This project, which also covers Uzbekistan, is being implemented with the active participation of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is aimed at developing sustainable solutions in the field of waste management.
The inventory provided a detailed analysis of the volume of plastic use, its distribution by sector, and the dynamics of waste generation. In the period from 2013 to 2022, the volume of plastic products entering the market of Kazakhstan increased from 387 thousand tons to 855 thousand tons, which represents an increase of 121.6%. The main consumers of plastic are the packaging, construction and transport sectors. Packaging occupies a leading position, accounting for more than 23% of total plastic consumption, due to the short service life of packaging materials. In 2022, the volume of plastic used for packaging amounted to about 196,000 tons. The construction sector ranks second with a share of 19% (167,000 tons), where plastic is used to produce durable materials such as pipes and insulation. The transport sector consumes about 17% of plastic, which is due to the growth in car production and the use of plastic components to reduce the weight of vehicles.
At the same time as the volume of plastic consumption increases, the volume of plastic waste generation is also growing. In 2022, it reached 296 thousand tons, which is more than twice as much as in 2013. The main source of waste is packaging, which accounts for 66% of the total volume. This is due to the massive use of single-use packaging and the lack of efficient recycling systems. Other sectors, such as construction and transportation, generate less waste due to the longer service life of plastic products. Polyethylene (38%), polypropylene (23%) and polyethylene terephthalate (14%) are the leaders among the most widely used polymers in Kazakhstan, which also make up the bulk of waste.
The inventory revealed a number of issues that make it difficult to effectively manage plastic waste. The main challenge lies in the insufficient infrastructure, which cannot cope with the growing volumes of waste. The lack of a separate waste collection system increases the load on sorting facilities and reduces the quality of processed raw materials. The low level of ecological culture among the population increases the problem, as many citizens are not sufficiently informed about the need for waste sorting and recycling. In addition, regional imbalances in processing capacities limit the possibilities of effective waste management, especially in remote and mountainous areas.
Based on the inventory results, recommendations were developed to solve the identified problems. Regular inventory management will help to maintain up-to-date data on volumes and types of plastic waste and develop effective management strategies. Infrastructure development, including the creation of new enterprises and the modernization of existing facilities, will be an important step to reduce waste. The introduction of a separate waste collection system will improve the quality of recycling and reduce sorting costs. Large-scale educational campaigns will help raise the level of environmental culture of the population and encourage citizen participation in recycling initiatives. Improving legislation, including limiting the use of single-use plastics and encouraging the use of recycled materials, will create conditions for the transition to a circular economy.
The inventory of plastic waste in Kazakhstan has become an important stage for the formation of a sustainable waste management system. The study provided relevant data that will help develop and implement effective measures to reduce the volume of plastic waste, increase recycling and minimize their negative impact on the environment. Together with the results of a similar study in Uzbekistan, the project highlights the importance of regional cooperation and an integrated approach to addressing plastic pollution. The implementation of the proposed measures will allow Kazakhstan to strengthen its position in Central Asia as a leader in the field of environmentally sustainable waste management and support the transition to a circular economy.
In 2025, the results of the plastic waste inventory will be uploaded to the official website of the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions: https://www.brsmeas.org/

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/press/news/details/919742