New strategy until 2040: will the waste problem in Dushanbe be resolved?

The Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan announced the holding of a working meeting and the development of a Solid Waste Management Strategy in the Republic of Tajikistan until 2040, as well as the presentation of a Regional Waste Management Center in the city of Dushanbe.

On July 24, the Committee for Environmental Protection reported on its Instagram page that representatives from the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as well as competent state authorities of Tajikistan and international experts participated in the meeting.

It is reported that the Chairman of the Committee, Bahodur Sheralizoda, stated at the opening ceremony of the meeting that the development of a modern waste management system is one of the priorities of state environmental policy. According to him, the establishment of modern waste recycling enterprises with the involvement of domestic and foreign investments can reduce waste volumes, enhance environmental safety, and create new economic opportunities.

The announcement notes that the new strategy provides for the modernization and reconstruction of the industry infrastructure, the development of the waste management system, and the implementation of modern recycling methods by 2040.

At the same time, in recent years, residents of Dushanbe and some other cities and districts have been constantly complaining about the untimely collection and removal of garbage. According to residents, despite the fact that fees for garbage collection and removal services are regularly charged to the population, in many neighborhoods and mahallas, garbage containers are constantly overflowing and not emptied in a timely manner. They say that this situation not only damages the city’s image but also negatively affects the sanitary conditions and health of residents.