IMPROVING THE PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING SYSTEM IN UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This article examines the current state of plastic waste management and recycling in Uzbekistan, focusing on the legal, institutional, infrastructural and economic constraints that prevent plastic waste from being effectively returned to the economic cycle. The study treats plastic waste not merely as an environmental problem, but as a source of secondary raw materials and as an important component of resource efficiency and the circular economy. Official data indicate that Uzbekistan generates approximately 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, while 116 recycling enterprises process around 130,000 tonnes, demonstrating substantial unused economic potential. The article argues that insufficient source separation, the incomplete development of extended producer responsibility (EPR), unclear technical requirements, weak eco-design incentives, limited markets for recycled materials and fragmented statistical information constitute interconnected rather than isolated problems. Drawing on international academic literature and the experiences of Canada, the European Union, China and Singapore, the article proposes an integrated policy model combining EPR, a deposit-return system, a dedicated green fund, performance-based recycling support, technical standards, eco-design requirements, green public procurement and eco-industrial zones. The proposed approach seeks to reduce environmental pressure while strengthening the domestic market for secondary raw materials, attracting private investment and improving the economic efficiency of recycling.