The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan has proposed to introduce an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for plastic waste produced and imported into the country.
The Ministry aims to publish the draft policy by Nov. 1, 2025, with implementation expected to begin in 2026.
The EPR scheme will require manufacturers and importers of plastics products to be responsible for the collection, sorting, and recycling of plastic waste.
In a statement announcing the measure, the Ministry said the system will gradually expand obligations for manufacturers, enterprises, and importers. Soft drink manufacturers, for example, will be required to recycle 50% of its plastic packaging by 2026, 75% by 2027, and 100% by 2028.
The scheme is expected to recycle 1.2 million tonnes of plastic waste per year. Through the system, the Uzbek Ministry aims to develop accurate statistical data on waste generation, disposal, and recycling.
The proposed EPR scheme is part of a larger draft State Programme for Uzbekistan's 2030 strategy, which includes a National Plastic Pollution Reduction programme spanning the years 2025 to 2027.
Other policies include a proposal to ban the production, import, and use of plastic bags by 2027, and introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles.
The draft programme is available for public discussion on the online portal of the Uzbekistan 2030 National Strategy.