BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 6
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Uzbekistan plans to increase the share of solid waste processing up to 25 in 2021, Trend reports referring to the press service of State Committee of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Environmental Protection.
According to the committee, the number of clusters operating in Uzbekistan has been increased to 12 (7 in 2019), 493 quarters in 11 districts (cities) were joined to five clusters created in 2020. In addition, it is planned to invest 197 billion soums ($18.9 million) in projects within improving solid waste management and create 1254 jobs.
Also, 16 projects of servicing territories by economic entities based on public-private partnership (PPP) were approved and announced, of which six PPP agreements were signed.
In total, contracts were concluded for the purchase of 242 units of special equipment at the expense of the budget (308 in 2019) for a total of 141.5 billion soums ($13.5 million). Some 117 billion soums ($11.2 million) were allocated for the purchase of 207 special equipment and 169 units of special equipment were delivered.
Furthermore, 24 landfills of solid household waste that do not meet the requirements of sanitary and environmental standards were closed and reclamation was carried out on the land of the landfills.
It was noted that the coverage of the regions with sanitary services reached 85.1 percent. Some 7,694 quarters out of 9,041 quarters are covered by services, while last year this figure amounted to 69 percent or 6,238 quarters.
The share of municipal solid waste processed in regions of Uzbekistan amounted to 21.9 percent, which accounts for 1.5 million tons (19 percent in 2019 or 1.3 million tons).
The main goals to be achieved in 2021 and in the first quarter by industry, sector, and direction include achieving 90 percent coverage of services for collection and removal of household waste (8,136 quarters out of 9,041 quarters will be covered) and to increase the share of the private sector in the organization of services for the collection and removal of household waste to 28 percent.
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