On August 2, another stage of a large-scale environmental campaign took place in Shymkent as part of the republican action "Taza Kazakhstan". Hundreds of organizations and thousands of concerned citizens united to clean the streets, courtyards and natural areas of the metropolis from accumulated garbage. Another clean-up day became not just a sanitary operation, but a real symbol of the unity of residents in the desire for a clean and well-maintained living environment.

The event covered all four administrative districts of the city. According to city services, more than 11,000 people took part in the event. Over 200 units of special equipment were used in the cleanup, including dump trucks, tractors, street cleaners and excavators. Over 160 tons of solid household and plant waste were removed in one day, grass was mown, irrigation ditch networks were cleaned and dry tree branches along the streets were trimmed.

Particular attention was paid to the condition of coastal zones and water bodies. Workers and volunteers cleared the banks and riverbeds of plastic and other hard-to-decompose waste that poses a threat to the environment. Such work is extremely important for preventing pollution of groundwater and surface water, especially in the arid climate of southern Kazakhstan.

District akimats, city administrations, departments, volunteer movements, students and schoolchildren actively joined the environmental campaign. Residents of apartment buildings at the level of yard committees organized local clean-up days, tidying up playgrounds, alleys and flower beds near the entrances.

Such clean-ups have been held in Shymkent every week since this spring. The city headquarters for environmental safety has developed a special schedule, according to which all districts take turns participating in the events. Such a systematic approach allows not only to restore order once, but also to maintain sanitary conditions at a high level throughout the year.

It is noteworthy that the current wave of cleanups differs from similar events of last year. If, for example, in 2023, cleanups were mainly limited to courtyards and street areas, then this year the emphasis is on a comprehensive approach. For example, in addition to the usual types of work - garbage collection and mowing - such tasks as restoring irrigation ditches, washing sidewalks, creating green areas and installing container sites have been added.

The increased participation of young people plays an important role in the success of these events. Schoolchildren, students, and youth activists take part not only in the cleanup, but also in information and outreach work. They hold mini-lectures, distribute leaflets about the importance of waste sorting and careful attitude to the urban environment. This indicates an increase in the level of environmental awareness among the new generation.

It should be noted that such events also stimulate the development of social responsibility among businesses. Some companies provided transport, gloves, equipment, and food for the participants. This proves that the cleanliness of the city is not only the task of the authorities, but also the common cause of the entire society.

Against the backdrop of climate change and increasingly frequent natural disasters, the topic of environmental sustainability comes to the fore. And although garbage collection does not solve all problems, it becomes a starting point for the formation of a more responsible attitude towards nature. It is especially important that clean-up days in Shymkent are becoming regular - this creates a culture of maintaining order and caring for the common space.

Compared to previous years, the current format is also distinguished by better technical support. Modern technology allows for faster processes, minimizes the burden on participants, and improves the quality of cleaning. City services note that thanks to new monitoring systems, they can more accurately track areas requiring intervention.

In addition to physical work, the Taza Kazakhstan campaign includes environmental lessons in schools, exhibitions, competitions for the best yard, and before-and-after photography of polluted areas. All of this helps city residents develop an understanding of how the urban environment can and should be changed for the better.

It is worth emphasizing that such cleanups are not a temporary solution. They are part of a larger state program aimed at sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life. Shymkent, as one of the fastest growing megacities in the country, demonstrates an example of how to consistently improve the environmental situation in the context of intensive urbanization.

According to representatives of the city akimat, at least 15 more large clean-up days are planned to be held by the end of the year, covering not only central but also remote microdistricts, spontaneous dumps and industrial zones. In the future, it is planned to introduce digital platforms for collecting proposals from citizens on improving the urban ecology.

Thus, the clean-up day on August 2 became an important stage on the way to a cleaner, greener and more comfortable Shymkent. And, as practice shows, if everyone makes a feasible contribution, our common home will become much more pleasant to live in.