Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has approved a revised version of the Law on Waste in its first reading.
The bill proposes updated rules for waste collection, transportation, sorting, recycling and disposal, as well as tighter controls on waste movements and the handling of hazardous materials.
The revision comes 24 years after the current law was adopted. Since then, production and consumption have increased, the range of waste types has expanded, new recycling technologies have emerged, and private operators and public-private partnership projects have taken on a greater role.
However, the sector continues to face challenges involving waste sorting and recycling, timely collection, service fee calculations and the handling of consumer complaints. Additional regulation is also needed for the collection, transportation and storage of construction, industrial and medical waste.
The revised law consists of nine chapters and 60 articles.
Waste classification and government responsibilities
The bill proposes clearer definitions of waste types and their hazard levels. It would introduce legal definitions for waste sorting, waste reduction, the circular economy and transboundary waste transportation. A unified waste catalogue is also planned, classifying waste into five hazard classes, from Class I to Class V.
The document clarifies the powers of government agencies and local administrations in waste accounting, sector digitalisation, licensing and investment attraction. It also separates the responsibilities of agencies overseeing medical, construction, mining and radioactive waste.
Local administrations would face greater responsibility for organising sanitation services and ensuring their effectiveness.
Controls on waste transportation and handling
One of the main proposed changes is tighter oversight of waste transportation. The bill provides for licensing waste transport operations and introduces specific requirements and certification procedures for vehicles used to transport hazardous waste.
The system for tracking waste from the point of generation to its final destination is also to be improved, alongside more detailed accounting of waste types and volumes.
Separate rules are proposed for construction and medical waste. Construction projects would have to account in advance for expected waste volumes, collection sites and removal costs.
Requirements for the separate collection, storage, transportation and treatment of medical and biological waste are also to be strengthened. The bill further provides for the use of low-waste technologies and the rehabilitation of closed landfills, restoring sites after they cease operating.
New landfill requirements
The bill proposes classifying landfills by type, specifying which waste categories they may accept and establishing safety requirements.
It would prohibit the privatisation of municipal solid waste landfills and require these facilities to be registered in the state cadastre.
The proposed legislation also stipulates that waste transfer stations must be located at least 300 metres from residential buildings. Such facilities would also be subject to project assessments and waste accounting requirements.
The new provisions are expected to strengthen oversight of waste management, encourage recycling, improve environmental safety and the quality of waste collection and removal services, and reduce violations of the law.
