37% of industrial waste generated in 2025 was recycled and treated in Kazakhstan
Approximately 1 billion tons of industrial waste are generated annually in Kazakhstan, with around 31.6 billion tons already accumulated. According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter – MENR), in 2025 the share of recycled and treated industrial waste reached 37% (2024 – 27.5%).
Of the total accumulated waste, 70% consists of technogenic mineral formations, including overburden and ash and slag waste. About 10% accounts for waste from the manufacturing industry, while 20% comes from other types of activities. Efforts are ongoing to process these waste streams.
One of the sources of environmental pollution is hazardous waste that has become ownerless as a result of liquidation, reorganization, privatization, or bankruptcy of certain industrial enterprises.
By court decisions, 17 hazardous waste facilities in Aktobe, Karaganda, Kostanay, Mangystau, Pavlodar, and Akmola regions have been transferred into state ownership. Of these, 6 have been eliminated, 2 transferred to local executive authorities, 2 sold, and 7 remain under management.
In addition, the MENR is implementing a project of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) titled “Regional Demonstration Project for the Coordinated Management of Ozone-Depleting Substances and Persistent Organic Pollutants in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia.”
In the Akmola Region, construction has been completed on an industrial facility for the thermal destruction of persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyl-containing waste. The project was implemented with funding from a private partner, EcoLux-As LLP, with technical support from international organizations (Global Environment Facility, UNIDO).
As previously reported, the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) will be held in Astana on 22–24 April 2026, where the challenges facing Central Asian countries and ways to address them will be discussed. Waste management is one of the key thematic areas of the event.
