On November 28, the National Forum "Electronic Waste Management in Uzbekistan: Current Situation and Future Steps" began its work in Tashkent. The event is held within the framework of the project "National Monitoring of Electronic Waste: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan."

For information, this project, supported by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is implemented by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in collaboration with the German Agency for Environmental Protection, the Federal Ministry for Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection.

The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the German Agency for Environmental Protection, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for Central Asia, the Risk Management System Center (RMS), the Statistical Agency of Uzbekistan, customs control, city and regional khokimiyats, international waste management experts, producers and importers of electronic and electrical equipment, representatives of waste collection and recycling organizations, industry associations and NGOs, higher education institutions, and others.

For information: in 2019, «Uzikkilamchiranglimetall» JSC processed 91.7 thousand tons of waste, in 2020 - 183 thousand tons, in 2021 - 216 thousand tons, and in 2022 - 33.8 thousand tons. In accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated May 31, 2023, No. 171, a practical control system has been introduced to increase the responsibility of producers of electric energy sources, batteries, accumulators, and other products.

According to UNITAR, if strict measures are not taken to establish a system for the collection and recycling of electronic waste in Uzbekistan, the amount of waste not collected and environmentally processed will reach 1.2 million tons by 2030 and 5.6 million tons by 2050. At the same time, by 2050, the amount of lead and mercury in uncontrolled waste could reach almost 1,400 tons.

It should be noted that actively developing the collection and recycling of electronic waste will significantly reduce their negative consequences and increase the economic efficiency of processing such waste. For example, by 2050, it will be possible to recycle over 1.1 million tons of iron, 195 thousand tons of aluminum, and 392 thousand tons of plastic.

Within the forum, a number of sessions are organized, dedicated to topics such as "Electronic Waste: Problems and Opportunities," "International Experience in Electronic Waste Management," "Electronic Waste in Uzbekistan: Statistics, Disposal Methods, and Current Issues," "Forecasts for Electronic Waste Recycling - Why It Matters," "Further Development of the Electronic Waste Management System in Uzbekistan," and "Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Electronic Waste."

It is worth mentioning that in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated May 31, 2023, No. PP-171, a corresponding draft regulatory document is being developed to implement a "Green" subsidy system for entrepreneurs engaged in the recycling of secondary raw materials.

The event will continue until November 29.