Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental problems of our time, affecting both local ecosystems and global sustainable development efforts. Kazakhstan, like many countries, is facing a growing volume of plastic waste, which poses significant challenges to environmental safety.

As part of the regional project ‘Plastic Waste in Remote and Mountainous Areas of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’, implemented by the Centre for Promotion of Sustainable Development (https://csd-center.org/) with the support of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) secretariat, a large-scale inventory of plastic waste was conducted for the period from 2013 to 2022. This project, which also covers Uzbekistan, is being implemented with the active participation of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and aims to generate sustainable waste management solutions.

The inventory provided a detailed analysis of the volume of plastic use, its distribution by sector and waste generation dynamics. Between 2013 and 2022, the volume of plastic products entering the Kazakhstan market increased from 387 thousand tonnes to 855 thousand tonnes, representing an increase of 121.6%. The main consumers of plastic are the packaging, construction and transport sectors. Packaging holds the leading position, accounting for more than 23% of total plastic consumption, due to the short lifespan of packaging materials. In 2022, the volume of plastic used for packaging was around 196 thousand tonnes. The construction sector ranks second with a 19% share (167 thousand tonnes), where plastic is used to produce durable materials such as pipes and insulation. The transport sector consumes about 17% of plastic, due to the growth in car production and the use of plastic components to reduce the weight of vehicles.

Along with the increase in plastic consumption, plastic waste generation is also increasing. In 2022, it will reach 296 thousand tonnes, more than double the figure for 2013. The main source of waste is packaging, which accounts for 66% of the total volume. This is due to the mass use of single-use packaging and the lack of effective recycling systems. Other sectors, such as construction and transport, generate less waste due to the longer lifespan of plastic products. Among the most widely used polymers in Kazakhstan, polyethylene (38 per cent), polypropylene (23 per cent) and polyethylene terephthalate (14 per cent) lead the way and also account for the bulk of waste.

The inventory identified a number of challenges that make it difficult to manage plastic waste effectively. The main challenge is inadequate infrastructure that cannot cope with the growing volumes of waste. The lack of a separate waste collection system increases the burden on sorting facilities and reduces the quality of recyclables. The low level of environmental culture among the population exacerbates the problem, as many citizens are not sufficiently informed about the need to sort and recycle waste. In addition, regional imbalances in recycling capacity limit the possibilities for effective waste management, especially in remote and mountainous areas.

Based on the results of the inventory, recommendations have been developed to address the identified problems. Regular inventories will help to maintain up-to-date data on volumes and types of plastic waste and develop effective management strategies. Infrastructure development, including the establishment of new facilities and modernisation of existing facilities, will be an important step to reduce waste volumes. The introduction of a separate waste collection system will improve recycling and reduce sorting costs. Large-scale educational campaigns will help raise the level of environmental culture of the population and encourage citizen participation in recycling initiatives. Improved legislation, including limiting the use of single-use plastic and incentivising the use of recycled materials, will create conditions for a transition to a circular economy.

The inventory of plastic waste in Kazakhstan has been an important step towards establishing a sustainable waste management system. The study provided relevant data that will help to develop and implement effective measures to reduce plastic waste, increase recycling and minimise its negative impact on the environment. Together with the results of a similar study in Uzbekistan, the project emphasises the importance of regional cooperation and an integrated approach to tackling plastic pollution. Implementation of the proposed measures will allow Kazakhstan to strengthen its position in Central Asia as a leader in sustainable waste management and support the transition to a circular economy.

In 2025, the results of the plastic waste inventory will be uploaded to the official website of the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions: https://www.brsmeas.org/.