Nearly 60,000 mercury-containing waste items recycled in Almaty

Approximately 60,000 mercury-containing waste items have been collected and transferred for recycling in Almaty over the first nine months of 2026, El.kz reports.

The collection is being carried out as part of the Taza Kazakhstan environmental initiative. This includes mercury-containing lamps, which must not be disposed of together with ordinary household waste.

According to Eco Almaty LLP, all collected waste is transported to a specialised facility, where it undergoes safe treatment and disposal. The company holds a licence authorising it to handle this type of waste.

For comparison, throughout 2025, residents and municipal enterprises in Almaty handed over more than 70,000 mercury-containing products for disposal.

Experts remind the public that such lamps are classified as hazardous waste. If damaged, they may become a source of environmental contamination and therefore require separate collection and specialised treatment.