BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 28
Trend:
The level of waste recycling in Kazakhstan will be brought to the average European level by 2025, Trend reports with reference to Kazinform international news agency.
This was announced by the Minister of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Magzum Mirzagaliyev during a meeting with representatives of NGOs in the framework of the IX Civil Forum of Kazakhstan.
"We are introducing energy waste utilization on a legislative basis using WASTE TO ENERGY technology in order to reduce the accumulation of waste. Garbage will be burned and electricity produced will be sold to the general power grid. Just recently, the Head of State signed a corresponding bill. Today we have identified six pilot cities. These are Aktobe, Almaty, Atyrau, Nur-Sultan, Taraz, and Shymkent. There is an active study of the issue with administrations on the availability of land plots, infrastructure, and guaranteed waste loading," Mirzagaliyev said, commenting on the innovations envisaged in connection with the development of a new Environmental Code based on the approaches of the OECD member countries.
"In case of successful implementation of the pilot projects, the experience will be extended to other cities. We expect to bring the level of processing to 30 percent by 2025, that is, to the average European level," he said.
The minister also said that in order to solve the problem of air, water, soil pollution, the introduction of the best available technologies in the industry is envisaged. In Europe, BAT has reduced emissions by 94 percent, which took 15 years. Enterprises that have implemented BAT will be exempted from emission fees. If enterprises do not use BAT, their emission rates will grow exponentially.
He also noted that in order to increase public confidence in environmental information on emissions volumes, it will be envisaged to establish an automated emission monitoring system at each source with online data transmission to the Ministry.
In addition, the minister noted that the current legislation does not have an obligation to spend the received payments for emissions for environmental protection measures. This led to the fact that only 45 percent of the funds received by the administrations are allocated to the environment. In this regard, all 100 percent of the proceeds from the emission fees will be spent only on environmental activities. It also provides for a significant increase in the size of fines for violations of environmental legislation.