Uzbekistan is constructing new waste processing plants that will not only reduce landfill volumes but also generate electricity from garbage, the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development announced.

Six plants are being built in the Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Tashkent regions at a total cost of $933 million. They will be capable of processing up to 3.6 million tons of waste annually and producing about 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Construction of five additional facilities worth $633 million is also being launched.

One of the key facilities, the Samarkand plant, is scheduled to begin operations in early 2027. Its capacity will be up to 1,500 tons per day, with annual electricity generation reaching 240 million kilowatt-hours.

Authorities aim to reduce reliance on landfills. In 2026, the number of landfills is planned to decrease by 32.6%, and by 2030 it will be halved. Reclamation of 18 more landfills is also planned. Infrastructure is being developed: 28 waste transfer stations are to be built in 2026, with the number reaching 70 by 2030.

However, problems remain in control and service. In 2025, over 10,000 cases of illegal waste dumping were detected, but only some resulted in fines. In the first quarter of 2026, more than 2,000 such violations were recorded, many identified via surveillance cameras.

Currently, 64% of the population (23.9 million people) use waste collection services, but the goal is to reach 90% by the end of 2026. However, household debt for these services remains significant, exceeding 622.7 billion soums.

One of the main unresolved issues is plastic recycling: although plastic accounts for over 10% of waste, existing capacities are insufficient for complete disposal.

A possible solution is the "Eco-asphalt" startup, which proposes using plastic waste in road construction. The project aims to recycle plastic and improve road infrastructure quality.

Source: podrobno.uz