More than 30% of waste was recycled and 95% of illegal dumpsites were eliminated in Kazakhstan in 2025

In Kazakhstan, 30.69% of municipal solid waste generated in 2025 was recycled and recovered, while 95% of illegal dumpsites identified through satellite monitoring during the same period were eliminated.

According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, about 5 million tons of municipal solid waste (hereinafter – MSW) were generated in the country last year, of which 1.5 million tons were recycled and recovered.

The highest shares of recycling and recovery were recorded in Karaganda Region – 61%, the city of Shymkent – 40.8%, Mangystau Region – 40.6%, Atyrau Region – 40%, Pavlodar Region – 37%, Kyzylorda Region – 33.6%, and Turkestan Region – 31%.

Out of 211 cities and districts in Kazakhstan, separate collection of MSW at various stages has been introduced in 123 localities, while sorting is carried out in 87.

At the end of 2025, Kazakhstan had 2,755 MSW landfills, of which 540 (19.6%) complied with environmental and sanitary standards.

The highest share of compliant landfills was recorded in the city of Astana – 100%, the city of Shymkent – 100%, Turkestan Region – 100%, Zhambyl Region – 80.3%, Zhetysu Region – 57.1%, Kostanay Region – 55.8%, and Mangystau Region – 40%.

In addition, satellite monitoring of waste disposal sites in 2025 identified 3,828 illegal dumpsites, of which 3,588, or 95%, were eliminated.

As previously reported, the Regional Ecological Summit 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 main thematic areas of the event.