Uzbekistan Reduces Number of Landfills and Expands Waste Recycling Efforts

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In 2024, Uzbekistan carried out the reclamation of 27 municipal waste landfills, according to the press service of the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development.

As the agency noted, during reclamation, non-recyclable waste is covered with a layer of soil, preventing further environmental impact. The works spanned all regions of the country, from Karakalpakstan to the Ferghana region, with the total restored area reaching dozens of hectares.

By the end of 2025, reclamation of another 18 landfills covering over 80 hectares is expected to be completed. Currently, the Directorate for Waste Landfill Management under the Agency oversees 185 facilities.

In addition, in 2024 and during the first ten months of 2025, the operation of 42 landfills was terminated nationwide, and about 90 hectares of land were returned to natural ecosystems.

These efforts are being implemented in line with the Presidential Decree of 4 January 2024 “On measures to improve the waste management system and reduce its negative impact on the environment.” The document provides for the comprehensive modernization of the sector, including the elimination of unauthorized dumpsites, the introduction of new recycling technologies, and the development of a circular economy.

According to the target indicators, by 2025, the number of household waste landfills in Uzbekistan is to be reduced by at least 20%, and by 2030, by half. The reclaimed sites are expected to be transformed into industrial zones specializing in waste processing and recycling, combining environmental and economic objectives within the country’s sustainable development framework.