Authorities in Uzbekistan have reportedly proposed the introduction of a mandatory deposit system for empty plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminum cans. The initiative was presented on October 20 during a meeting of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis by Iskandar Kutbiddinov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, while introducing the updated draft law "On Waste".

According to the official's claims, the existing voluntary system has allegedly failed to provide sufficient economic incentives for the separate collection of packaging materials. The recycling rate for such waste in the country remains critically low at just 6.2 percent, highlighting ongoing systemic challenges within the environmental management sector.

The proposed deposit mechanism entails adding a collateral fee for the packaging to the final product price, which consumers could supposedly reclaim after returning the empty containers to specialized collection points or automated recycling kiosks. Similar systems are widely utilized internationally to boost secondary raw material collection.

The newly approved first-reading bill also aims to expand the extended producer responsibility framework for manufacturers and importers regarding packaging waste. However, specific details concerning the exact deposit amounts, designated system operators, and the precise timeline for implementation were not disclosed during the parliamentary session.

Source: www.gazeta.uz