JSC Zhasyl Damu Is Developing a New Waste Management System in Kazakhstan

JSC Zhasyl Damu is working to establish a new waste management system in Kazakhstan, which envisages centralized sector management, digitalization of processes, development of the waste market, and the creation of mechanisms to support recycling.

One of the key areas is the establishment of a centralized waste management system. JSC Zhasyl Damu has been designated as the National Waste Management Center (NWMC), which is intended to coordinate waste flows, facilitate cooperation between government authorities, regions, and businesses, and introduce unified and transparent mechanisms for the functioning of the sector.

Digitalization will be an important component of the new system. The Company is currently working on the implementation of a digital platform that will ensure waste traceability at every stage — from generation to recycling.

The platform is expected to integrate digital profiles of waste generators, tools for planning and monitoring waste transportation, as well as a unified database of waste management infrastructure facilities.

In parallel, work is underway to develop the waste market. This includes the introduction of electronic waste trading instruments and economic incentives for businesses engaged in recycling activities.

A separate area of work focuses on the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in rural areas. A digital MSW management model is planned, incorporating the development of the necessary infrastructure as well as modern mechanisms for planning and organizing waste collection and transportation.

In the area of industrial waste, plans include introducing support mechanisms for recycling, attracting domestic and international investment, and establishing recycling facilities directly at waste generation sites.

As a reminder, on 31 December 2025, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved the Concept for the Management of All Types of Waste in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2026–2030. For the first time, the document systematically defined approaches to managing various types of waste and laid the foundation for the transition to the principles of a circular economy.

The key objective of the Concept is to establish a comprehensive and economically viable system in which waste is regarded not only as something to be disposed of, but also as a resource that can be returned to economic circulation.

By implementing the approaches set out in the Concept, JSC Zhasyl Damu is building the institutional, digital, and economic foundations of Kazakhstan’s new waste management system. Its development is aimed at increasing transparency across the sector, expanding recycling, and progressively returning waste materials to secondary economic circulation.