More than 80 hectares of former landfill land have been returned to nature
2025-05-01 14:00:00 / News
In accordance with Presidential Resolution No. 171 dated May 31, 2023, a new state organization — the Directorate for Landfill Management — was established. Its mandate is to systematize, modernize, and optimize landfill operations across the country.
Currently, work is being carried out at the landfills to monitor atmospheric emissions and ensure fire safety. Water reservoirs, sanitary zones, guardhouses, toilets, water wells and de-barriers are being constructed. A stable supply of electricity and drinking water is ensured.
Notably, through the Waste Management and Circular Economy Development Agency under the Ministry of Ecology, and via the Directorate, modern GPS systems have been installed on nearly 300 pieces of specialized landfill equipment. Additionally, 78 new machines were purchased with government funds and distributed among regions.
In line with Presidential Decree No. 5 dated January 4, 2024, reclamation has been completed on 27 municipal landfills with a total area of over 81 hectares, along with 12 additional sites. All reclaimed landfills have been covered with a layer of soil.
To date, 39 of the 184 municipal landfills have been leveled and covered with soil to an average depth of 70–80 cm. This has helped minimize negative impacts on public health and the environment and allowed the land to be returned to nature.
In the first quarter of this year, landfills in 14 districts across Tashkent, Namangan, Andijan, Bukhara, Syrdarya, Samarkand, Fergana, and Kashkadarya regions underwent waste relocation, compaction, and leveling. As part of a targeted program, 37 landfills are now being equipped with vehicle scales and surveillance cameras.
In 2025, it is planned to reclaim and cover an additional 18 landfills with soil.
As part of the national "Yashil Makon" (Green Space) project, 461,000 tree saplings — including poplar, mulberry, elm, saxaul, willow, and others — were planted around 123 landfill sites in 2024. In spring 2025, a further 367,700 trees were planted around 130 landfills, forming "green belts".
Looking ahead, the plan is to reclaim 970 hectares of land, return it to nature, prevent the annual release of 58.5 million cubic meters of gas, reduce fire risk, and cut the impact of groundwater on the atmosphere by an average of 78%. These efforts aim to improve waste management in 116 cities and districts across Uzbekistan.