Shavkat Mirziyoyev Discusses Ecology, Waste Processing, and Winter Preparedness

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 1 December, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting dedicated to the environmental situation, waste management, and preparations for the winter season.

During the event, reports from the Special Commission on Improving the Environmental Situation in Tashkent were presented, and measures to combat air pollution, identify sources of emissions, and eliminate them were discussed. Special attention was paid to inversion phenomena caused by the impact of a cold anticyclone, which slows the natural purification of the atmosphere.

In the capital, inspections are being carried out at greenhouses, construction sites, vehicles, and facilities with illegal activities, alongside stabilization measures such as street humidification, cleaning of irrigation canals, and the activation of fountains. Enhanced patrols and preventive work continue. The President instructed that these measures be extended to other regions and that strict control over factors affecting air quality be ensured.

Projects for electricity generation from household waste have been launched in six regions of the country with a total investment of $933 million; however, in some areas, investors’ infrastructure work remains incomplete. Local authorities and the National Committee for Ecology were instructed to address shortcomings and expand the implementation of such projects.

By 2030, the plan is to reduce the number of solid waste landfills by 50%. Currently, 47 landfills have been closed with the reclamation of 243 hectares of land, yet most active sites lack protective fences, “green belts,” and environmental safety systems. The President ordered the creation of green zones around all landfills and the integration of reclaimed land into economic use, allocating at least 150 billion soums annually from 2026 for this purpose.

Particular attention was given to the processing of industrial and hazardous waste, with the current rate at 4.5%, which is deemed insufficient. Instructions were issued to inventory waste generation sites, implement processing projects, and establish a unified information and monitoring platform.

Issues of liquefied gas supply and stable functioning of the electricity infrastructure were also considered. Cases of theft and poor-quality repairs were recorded; the General Prosecutor’s Office was tasked with investigating violations, and the Energy Inspection was instructed to strengthen control and operate in emergency mode.

Additionally, fire safety and emergency response systems were discussed. The need to assess more than 44,000 multi-story buildings, introduce strict requirements for the use of flammable façade materials, and draft legislation to align construction standards with international norms was highlighted.

In conclusion, the President emphasized the importance of coordinating utility services, creating working groups by district, and integrating them into a unified MES dispatch system to enhance the efficiency of emergency response.