Waste Agency Explains Procedures for Disposing of Old Vehicles

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development commented on the vehicle buyback and disposal system for end-of-life vehicles, which has sparked significant public interest, detailing the conditions of the upcoming mechanism.

According to agency representatives, vehicles aged 30 years and older will be accepted from owners at market value and sent for recycling. Payments to citizens are planned in two formats: an electronic voucher to be used as a down payment for purchasing a new domestic car, or its monetary equivalent. The remaining cost of the vehicle can be paid in installments over a period of more than one year.

Owners who do not hand over their vehicles within the established timeframes will have to pay an annual ecological compensation fee amounting to 30 times the base calculating quantity (BCQ), the agency specified.

The agency explained that the reform is necessitated by the rapid growth of transport loads against the backdrop of population growth and economic development. According to the agency, about 600,000 vehicles travel daily through the streets of Tashkent. Old cars that do not meet modern environmental standards were identified as one of the primary permanent sources of atmospheric air pollution.

The agency emphasized that recycling outdated machinery has both environmental and economic significance. Motor oils, fuel residues, batteries, and heavy metals contained in such vehicles pollute soil and water resources if left unmanaged.

During the recycling process, hazardous components are safely neutralized, while metal, plastic, and glass are returned to manufacturing. According to the agency's assessment, this reduces the consumption of raw materials, decreases waste volumes, develops the recycling industry, and creates additional jobs. Furthermore, decommissioning outdated cars contributes to improving road safety and introducing the principles of a circular economy.

The step-by-step formation of the infrastructure for disposing and recycling components began in 2026. The agency noted that similar systems operate in more than 60 countries worldwide. In France, a state program subsidizing the replacement of old cars with new, environmentally friendly ones was launched in 2002. In Germany, the "Abwrackprämie" program went live in 2009, offering state support to owners of cars older than nine years who scrapped them to buy new ones.

Alongside incentive programs, restrictive measures are also widely applied in global practice, the agency noted. In many European cities—including London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan, and Madrid—restrictions on entering urban zones or additional fees have been introduced for vehicles that do not meet environmental standards.

In London, for instance, owners of cars that do not meet ULEZ requirements are required to pay £12.50 per day, alongside a separate congestion charge. In Germany, an Umweltplakette environmental badge is required, while France utilizes the Crit'Air system. Diesel vehicles of Euro-3 standard and below are, in some cases, completely barred from entering certain urban areas.

The agency called on citizens to consciously approach the issue of environmental and social responsibility, pointing out that environmental protection is directly linked to human health and the well-being of future generations.