During a video conference on improving the waste management system and improving the environmental situation in the regions, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that today many people are tired of cleaning their homes, the presidential spokesman reported.
“Our people have always considered nature sacred. They used to keep the soil, water and air clean. It is not in vain that our people have a wise saying: “Cut one, plant ten”. When a new child is born in the family, a sapling is planted under his name. Unfortunately, these good habits have almost disappeared today. Our people even got tired of cleaning the yard, planting trees, flowers ans seedlings. Why isn’t there a buzz in the media and in mahallas about this issue? Where are our mahalla activists?” the head of state said.
Today, in the XXI century, when the world has a high level of engineering and technology, industry, environmental issues are on the agenda as a priority, the President added.
“We will not be able to achieve our goal if we do not think not only about today, but also about the near and distant future. In order for our generations to live in a decent natural environment after us, we must love and care for nature, live in harmony with it. What does that mean? This means keeping nature clean, protecting land and water resources, ecosystems, planting trees and creating gardens,” he said.
Mirziyoyev noted that the most important issue is the need to seriously consider raising the population’s environmental awareness.
The state of waste collection, sorting, removal, recycling and disposal is unsatisfactory, the head of state noted.
Reportedly, the level of recycling of household waste in Andijan – 45%, Bukhara – 43%, Navoi and Namangan – 36%, which shows good results in these areas. In contrast, Karakalpakstan lags behind the rest by 10%, and Fergana and Kashkadarya – by 20%.
The meeting also criticized the fact that the issue of waste removal has not been resolved for 30 years in 781 mahallas, although the coverage of waste removal has reached 90% (it was only 25% in 2017).
The President has set a goal to increase the coverage of household waste collection to 95%, recycling to 40% and the share of the private sector to 50% by 2022.
The land, property and social tax rate for clusters capable of recycling waste is set at 1%. The procedure for organizing clusters will be revised, which will require them to increase the level of waste recycling in their area by at least 40%.
