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In Kazakhstan, Zhasyl Damu has allocated 122.6 billion tenge from recycling fees to 34 waste management projects. The funding is intended for new recycling facilities, sorting plants and purchases of specialist vehicles and equipment, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reports (kapital.kz).
What happened
The ministry’s investment task force approved 67 projects with total funding of 440 billion tenge. Of these, 34 have received funding. The funds allocated by Zhasyl Damu come from recycling fees.
Six of the funded projects involve building facilities to sort municipal solid waste. Their combined capacity is expected to reach 650 thousand tonnes a year. Another 18 projects aim to expand recycling, with a combined annual capacity of 435 thousand tonnes.
A separate area of funding covers purchases of specialist vehicles and equipment for waste management. Ten funded projects provide for the purchase of 177 units. The projects receiving funding thus include both facility construction and equipment purchases.
What this means
The figure of 435 thousand tonnes a year refers to the recycling capacity planned under the funded projects. The ministry provides separate figures for facilities already in operation. Their recycling capacity is 19.3 thousand tonnes a year.
According to the ministry, 15 projects are already operational. These projects have purchased 131 specialist vehicles and pieces of equipment. Sorting lines with a combined capacity of 290 thousand tonnes a year have also been launched.
Where recycling is being developed
Most of the funding has gone to projects in Almaty and the North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Aktobe and Kostanay regions. Activities include recycling waste paper, plastic bottles made from PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, vehicle tyres and other waste.
Projects are also being implemented in the Atyrau, Akmola, Mangystau, East Kazakhstan and Abai regions. The ministry also named the cities of Astana and Shymkent. Work is underway in other regions of the country as well.
The funding covers the construction of new facilities and upgrades to existing plants. Another area is the renewal of specialist vehicle and equipment fleets. This work forms part of projects to develop modern waste management infrastructure.
Work on new projects continues. Some proposals are under review and awaiting approval, while others are being prepared for funding.
