Waste management and circular economy development agency

The national roundtable was organized as part of the project "Technical Assistance for Effective Management of Hazardous Chemicals," funded by the European Union. The event was attended by representatives of international organizations, development partners, government agencies, the Association of Cement Producers of Uzbekistan, and cement manufacturers.

Currently, opportunities for the disposal of hazardous waste have become a pressing issue in Uzbekistan, as in other countries, posing serious risks to the environment and public health. In this context, the roundtable discussed how the cement industry can play a role in managing certain types of hazardous waste through the joint processing of alternative fuels and raw materials (AFW). Joint recycling of waste in cement kilns is used in a number of countries as one of the methods of environmentally friendly management of certain types of waste.

Participants also familiarized themselves with a pilot experiment conducted in Azerbaijan with FAO support for the controlled joint processing of pesticide waste containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs). 

During the discussions, the approach of the Association of Cement Producers of Uzbekistan to the issue of joint processing as a business and investment solution was also considered. This roundtable helped identify initial regulatory, permitting, infrastructure, and investment issues that need to be addressed for future pilot activities.

Roberto Aparisio, Program Manager of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, described the roundtable as an important opportunity to bring relevant stakeholders together. He emphasized the importance of turning these discussions into a clear roadmap coordinated with relevant government agencies and industry representatives. He also reaffirmed the EU's support for the transition from dialogue to practical next steps for environmentally sound management of hazardous waste.

"Uzbekistan has great potential to explore the possibility of joint waste recycling in cement kilns as one of the ways to strengthen environmentally sound management of certain types of hazardous waste." This roundtable is an important first step in bringing together government and industry representatives to assess existing opportunities, identify interested cement plants, and define the technical, regulatory, and environmental requirements that must be met before any pilot operation is considered," said Artur Shamilov, FAO Agriculture Specialist and Leading Technical Officer for the project.

At the next stage, it is planned to identify interested cement plants and conduct technical assessments at the enterprise level. This creates a foundation for pilot operations that could contribute to a broader approach to hazardous waste management in the country.