National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

According to recent analysis, the volume of construction activity is increasing across all regions of Uzbekistan, which in turn is contributing to the problem of illegal dumping of construction waste in unauthorized areas. Notably, in the “Charvak” free tourist zone alone, construction volumes have increased tenfold compared to 2020, resulting in a rise in cases of unlawful disposal of construction waste without compliance with environmental standards.

It should be noted that the legislation of Uzbekistan establishes strict liability for waste-related offences. In particular, pursuant to Article 91, Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, the disposal of solid household and construction waste in unauthorized locations, as well as the discharge of liquid household waste, entails fines ranging from one to three basic calculation value (BCV) for individuals and from ten to twenty BCVs for officials. In the event of a repeated offence within one year following the imposition of an administrative penalty, fines increase to five to ten BCVs for individuals and twenty to thirty BCVs for officials.

Now, a Special Commission is conducting ongoing inspection raids across the country to prevent the accumulation of construction waste. A dedicated working group has been established, comprising representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the National Guard, the Environmental Police, the Tourist Police and local authorities. Since 10 April, the group has been carrying out on-site inspections. Initial inspections have focused on the “Charvak” tourist zone in the Bostanlyk district of the Tashkent region. Preliminary findings indicate that two waste disposal sites in the district were rehabilitated and closed in 2020–2021, and that waste is currently being transported to a landfill in the Parkent district.

Furthermore, between 11 and 13 April, 102 cases of violations related to the illegal disposal of waste in unauthorized locations were identified. Administrative protocols have been issued, and appropriate measures are being taken. In addition, administrative proceedings have been initiated in 19 cases involving violations of air protection regulations, with corresponding penalties imposed. With the involvement of 23 units of specialized equipment, two illegal waste disposal sites have been fully eliminated. In total, 401 tonnes of various types of waste have been transported to designated disposal facilities.

It is also worth noting that, in order to prevent the illegal and unregulated placement of waste, online surveillance cameras have been installed at 10 locations at the initiative of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The installation of an additional 40 cameras is planned.

At the same time, an “Environmental Action Ten-Day Period” has been declared across all regions of the country to strengthen environmental sustainability efforts. As part of these activities, the working group has identified a further 11 violations related to the illegal dumping of construction waste  and appropriate administrative measures have been taken.

Dear citizens!
If you identify similar environmental violations, please contact the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change at the following numbers: (71) 207-11-07, (71) 207-11-08, 1157 and 1207, as well as the short number 1205 of the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development. You may also submit reports via the Telegram bot @ecogovuz_bot in the form of text, photos, or video.