Waste management and circular economy development agency

Speaking about her work, she says she is satisfied with her honest labor and truly loves her profession. She also calls on people to contribute—even in small ways—to keeping the environment clean. Below is her story.

“I am from Buka district of Tashkent region. We moved to Tashkent city in 2016. Before starting this job, I worked in the landscaping sector. After our respected President provided us with housing, I began working here in 2020. I am very grateful that we have a home—it is warm and comfortable.

In the morning, after we wake up, the garbage truck arrives. From six to seven in the morning and again from six to seven in the evening, we collect the waste and send it off. Afterwards, we wash the area. Whether it is winter or summer, whether the weather is hot or cold, I have never felt it as a hardship. If I follow cleanliness and contribute to keeping the environment clean, people will also follow cleanliness. Whoever comes here feels relieved and comfortable. I am not ashamed of my work—I am proud of it.

There were times when some people insulted me by saying, ‘You’re a garbage collector.’ But others come and say, ‘Thank you, may you be blessed—everything here is neat and clean.’ At first, my children felt embarrassed. They told me, ‘Mom, why are you doing this job? Don’t work here, quit.’ When my son was at school, some children said to him, ‘Your mother is a garbage collector.’ There were days when he came home crying.

I told my son: ‘My child, let them talk if they want. This is honest work, and its reward is great.’ Now my children are no longer ashamed. My daughter, who is in the fourth grade, sometimes comes and sweeps the area and sprinkles water. My son comes, and even my daughter-in-law helps. I have already paid half of my home loan. I married off my son and held a wedding. Over the past six years, I have accomplished these things through this job. Our work experience is counted, and we receive our salaries on time.

Of course, I am a woman and sometimes I get tired. There are moments when I get upset as well. There were days when, while sweeping near apartment buildings, someone poured a bucket of dirty water over us. People should know how to respect others’ labor. Sometimes the way some people behave has deeply hurt me. There were even times when arguments happened when I asked people not to throw bread away or leave it on the ground. Still, I would like to ask our residents: even if it is just one small step, please do not throw waste on the ground. Appreciate workers like us. Do not be lazy—bring your waste to the designated place.

I wish people would see us not as ‘garbage collectors,’ but as people who keep the environment clean. Of course, we cannot always sort waste ourselves. But even so, I work because I love my profession. If waste were brought already sorted, our work would become much easier. Sometimes people even throw away bread. There is a special place here where bread can be left. If they place it there, those who have livestock—chickens or sheep—can come and take it.

I truly love my profession. My children have grown kinder toward one another by seeing my work. Even my youngest daughter never throws trash on the street. Whenever she eats something, she takes the waste home and puts it in the trash bin. My children understand my value. There is no such thing as an easy job—every job has its difficulties. But I enjoy my work. Because I love it, I do not feel the hardship.

My greatest dream is to be invited as a guest to the House of God.”

Unfortunately, many of us casually throw waste wherever we happen to be in the streets without considering that such behavior leads to environmental pollution. We rarely think about the people who must clean up this waste in all weather conditions.

Therefore, we call on our fellow citizens to dispose of waste in designated places, to protect the environment from pollution, and to appreciate the dedicated work of individuals like Nargiza Qulmatova, who serve the community in this important field.