Uzbekistan Tightens Rules on Hazardous Waste Management
Uzbekistan has adopted new measures to strengthen hazardous waste management, requiring annual waste management plans from 2027.
Uzbekistan's president has enacted a new resolution, "On Measures to Improve the Effectiveness of Hazardous Waste Management," designed to bolster the nation's hazardous waste management framework and intensify environmental supervision.
Effective January 1, 2027, all legal entities that possess hazardous waste will be mandated to formulate annual hazardous waste management plans. These plans must be predicated on the findings of an environmental review and subsequently approved by the regional branches of the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development.
The annual plans are required to detail strategies for diminishing the quantity of hazardous waste produced, elevating the proportion of waste that undergoes recycling or secure disposal, and guaranteeing the consignment of hazardous waste to specialized entities. These entities must be authorized to process, neutralize, utilize, or dispose of such waste, possess the requisite infrastructure, and have received a favorable environmental review.
Furthermore, the resolution stipulates the gratuitous transfer of all specialized facilities and open areas designated for the storage of decommissioned hazardous waste to the agency. The funds necessary for the environmental rehabilitation of these sites will also be transferred.
Additionally, commencing October 1, 2026, organizations that generate hazardous waste will be required to prepare their statistical reports based on the calendar year.