Plastics, organic waste and other waste: What is not recycled in Kazakhstan

Certain categories of waste in Kazakhstan remain outside the scope of recycling or are subject to limited recycling capacity, including some types of single-use plastic tableware. The current situation was outlined by Darkhan Dautov, a representative of JSC Zhasyl Damu, El.kz reports.

According to Dautov, plastic, glass, paper, cardboard and rubber are currently recycled in Kazakhstan. However, certain plastic products, including some types of single-use tableware, are not yet covered by existing recycling operations.

The company representative also commented on organic waste. He stated that its processing is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining a marketable end product. At the same time, organic waste can, in principle, be processed through composting and other treatment methods. The speaker’s remarks should therefore be understood as a description of current practices rather than a technological constraint.

Kazakhstan is developing projects aimed at recycling plastic waste. In particular, manufacturers use secondary raw materials to produce goods suitable for urban improvement and public space development.

An initial allocation of KZT 185 billion was envisaged to support waste sorting and recycling initiatives, as well as the procurement of specialised equipment. Zhasyl Damu also reported projects with a combined value of KZT 339.8 billion. However, the original statement does not specify how many of these projects have already been implemented.

Previously, environmental projects focused on waste recycling and recovery received support through Zhasyl Damu mechanisms. Expanding waste processing capacity is expected to increase the volume of waste that can be diverted to recycling.