Uzbekistan wants to introduce a deposit on bottles and cans and tighten control over waste

Uzbekistan intends to introduce a deposit system for bottles and cans and strengthen waste control

In Uzbekistan, a new draft of the law "On Waste" has been prepared, providing for a unified classification of garbage, the expansion of responsibility for manufacturers and importers, as well as new rules for managing construction, medical, and hazardous waste. Among the proposals is a mandatory deposit on plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans, which consumers will be able to get back upon returning the container.

The bill was reviewed in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on October 20. Iskandar Kutbiddinov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, asked the deputies to support the document in its first reading.

He explained the need to adopt the new law by the fact that the current document was adopted 24 years ago. During this time, the volumes and composition of waste have changed, and private operators, public-private partnership mechanisms, and digital accounting systems have emerged.

According to data presented at the meeting, 15.1 million tons of household waste were generated in the country in 2025, but the share of its sorting was only 5.2%. The recycling rate of plastic and glass containers, as well as aluminum cans, remains at 6.2%.

To solve this problem, it is proposed to introduce a mandatory deposit system: when purchasing a beverage, the consumer will pay a deposit for the packaging, which will be returned to them after turning in the empty container. Producers and trade organizations are planned to be given a transition period to create the necessary infrastructure.

Another change concerns construction debris. According to Kutbiddinov, from 2017 to 2025, the volume of such waste increased from 1.2 million to 1.9 million tons. The bill provides for accounting for the costs of their collection and removal in the design and cost documentation.

The document also implies the introduction of a unified classification of waste divided into five hazard classes, licensing for its transportation, and special requirements for vehicles carrying hazardous waste. Separate rules are planned to be established for the collection, transportation, and disposal of medical and biological waste.

In addition, it is proposed to prohibit the import of waste into Uzbekistan for storage or disposal, clarify the rules for its transit, and strengthen control over landfills, including after the termination of their operation. A minimum distance of 300 meters from residential buildings is provided for transfer stations.

The bill also affects the responsibility of manufacturers and importers. For certain types of goods and packaging, it is proposed to establish obligations for the collection and recycling of waste, and, in prescribed cases, the payment of a recycling fee.

A separate section is dedicated to payment for waste removal services. The document proposes to establish requirements for the economic justification of tariffs, their approval by local kengashes (councils), and publication for the public. It is intended to distribute the collected funds among contractors taking into account the work actually performed.

During the discussion, MP Narimon Umarov suggested refining the document for the second reading. He considers it necessary to consolidate the principles of waste reuse and the circular economy, include the Cabinet of Ministers in the list of authorized bodies, and also prescribe a mechanism for state control and constant monitoring of facilities working with waste.

According to the MP, without a clear oversight mechanism, it will be difficult to enforce the new requirements. As an example, he pointed to landfills and industrial waste storage facilities that require systematic control.

Earlier in the Oliy Majlis, Minister of Construction Sherzod Khidoyatov announced more than 720 illegally built high-rise buildings in Tashkent. Later, the Ministry of Construction clarified that there are only 61 such buildings.