The issue was raised by Odiljon Mamadaliev, a member of the Legislative Chamber’s Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection, at a parliamentary session on October 13.

Mamadaliev said that despite measures taken to address the problem, regions continued to face shortcomings in household waste collection and removal, as well as the calculation of fees for these services.

According to a report by the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change cited by the MP, 48.4% of complaints from individuals and legal entities concerned household waste collection and removal. Of all complaints, 18.1% were related primarily to charges for services that had not been provided.

Mamadaliev also highlighted delays in landfill reclamation projects scheduled for 2026. Some landfills, he said, still fail to fully comply with environmental standards, sanitary regulations and fire safety requirements.

At the same time, the MP pointed to investment in the sector. In 2025, UZS 386.5 billion was invested in developing the solid household waste management system, while coverage of waste collection and removal services reached 63% of the population.

Projects to generate electricity from waste are also being implemented in seven regions, with a combined value of about $933 million. A further $1.6 billion in projects is planned for the second phase.

In response to the persistent problems, the parliamentary committee proposed sending a formal inquiry to Sharifbek Khasanov, director of the Waste Management Agency and Circular Economy Development Agency.

The Legislative Chamber supported the proposal. The agency was asked to explain what measures it is taking to improve waste management, develop the circular economy and organize payments for waste collection and removal services.

Complaints over unjustified waste collection debts

Uzbekistan introduced a new rule on January 1, 2026, requiring residents to pay for solid household waste collection and removal only when the services have actually been provided.

However, complaints about poor service quality and unjustified debts continued to rise early in the year.

According to the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection, more than 850 complaints had been received by February 12, compared with 1,141 complaints handled throughout 2025.