Thousands barred from paying for electricity over allegedly unjustified waste collection debts

According to the Agency for Waste Management and Circular Economy Development, as of February 5, a total of 1,174,686 subscribers nationwide owed UZS 108.9 billion for waste removal services. All debtors were sent warning SMS notifications and given five days to settle their arrears.

During that period, subscribers paid UZS 12.7 billion. However, 198,858 consumers who collectively owed UZS 15.8 billion were subsequently subjected to restrictions on electricity payments. The agency said the limitation would be lifted once the debt is fully repaid.

At the same time, the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection has reported a surge in complaints related to waste collection services. In the first forty days of the year alone, the committee received more than 850 appeals from citizens.

Most complaints cited delays in waste removal, low-quality services, violations of contractual terms, and unjustified debt accruals by service providers. In a number of cases, consumers said they were restricted from paying for electricity over debts they considered groundless.

Following a review, the committee found that in several regions the legally mandated minimum frequency of waste collection was not being observed. It also confirmed instances in which consumers were charged unjustified debts.

The highest number of complaints came from Namangan, Kashkadarya, Jizzakh, Tashkent, and Fergana regions.

In response, the committee sent a formal request to the Waste Management Agency, calling for measures to ensure timely and high-quality waste removal, prevent unjustified debt charges, and review electricity payment restrictions imposed due to disputed arrears.

Under current legislation, solid household waste collection services must be provided within established timeframes and at a defined minimum frequency. Moreover, if a service is not delivered or is provided inadequately, consumers are exempt from payment for the relevant period.