Uzbekistan has prepared a revised version of the national waste management law, aimed at fundamentally overhauling the handling of refuse across the country. The proposed legislation introduces a unified classification of waste, expands the extended producer responsibility framework, and establishes rigorous regulations for construction, medical, and hazardous materials. Among the most notable proposals is a mandatory deposit system for plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminum cans, allowing consumers to reclaim a financial deposit upon returning empty containers.

The draft bill was reviewed during a session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, where officials urged lawmakers to approve the document in its first reading. Proponents of the reform argued that the existing legislation, adopted 24 years ago, is severely outdated and fails to address current realities, such as modern waste volumes, private sector involvement, and digital tracking mechanisms. Official figures presented at the meeting indicated that the country generated 15.1 million tons of household waste, with a meager sorting rate of just 5.2 percent.

To tackle these persistent environmental challenges, the proposed measures seek to enforce container deposit schemes and incorporate the collection and removal costs of construction debris directly into project estimates. Furthermore, the legislation allegedly aims to prohibit the import of foreign waste for storage or disposal, tighten safety requirements for transport and landfills, and mandate better economic justification for regional waste collection tariffs.

Source: podrobno.uz