ASTANA – Astana Akimat (city administration) and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Operator recently launched a pilot project to organise the two-fraction, dry and wet, separate collection of solid household waste. The first stage of the project is intended to conduct large-scale information and educational training among the population.
Photo credit: 24.kz.
Starting in July, 6,275 yellow containers will be installed at the 2,070 capital’s container sites to receive the dry fraction of recyclable solid household waste, such as metal, plastic, paper and glass. The green container will be used to collect food, organic and other non-recyclable solid household waste.
Approximately 300,000 tonnes of solid domestic waste are generated annually in Astana.
The implementation of the pilot project will help alleviate the landfill sites and preserve natural resources.
The official launch of the pilot project was announced at the June 5 EcoAsar event dedicated to the World Environment Day.
To date, there are temporary points for the reception of old electronic household appliances, paper and glass waste, metal products and plastic bottles. The collected recyclables will be sent to the processing enterprises.
In the coming two years, outreach activities will include master classes at the city’s residential complexes, classes on the separate collection of solid waste at educational institutions and audiovisual materials.
The Promothod-Kazakhstan LLP recently began to collect and dispose of used electronic and electrical appliances to allow the public to more easily dispose of unwanted electrical items.
The company receives old refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves and other household items at 20 tenge per kilogram.
Last year, Promothod-Kazakhstan LLP received a grant to collect and process 650 tonnes of electronic waste in Karaganda, Kostanai and Petropavlsk. This year, Astana expects to process more than 100 tonnes of waste.
Technology importers pay a recycling fee while importing items. The fees are used to dispose of the important items.
The Kazakh public needs additional training as to how to properly dispose of household items, Promothod-Kazakhstan LLP marketing specialist Alexey Petrov said recently.
“Though I think this system will work for us soon. We will increase the number of recyclable materials as in developed countries,” added Petrov.
