Kazakhstan faces a number of environmental challenges in waste management. The low level of waste recycling, with a significant portion being sent to landfills, leads to environmental pollution and the loss of valuable resources. A critical aspect of this issue is the informal sector, which plays a significant role in waste collection, sorting, and recycling. This sector operates outside official, regulated frameworks, often leading to violations of environmental standards and a lack of social and labour regulations. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems can significantly address this situation. EPR is a mechanism in which producers take responsibility for managing the waste generated throughout the entire life cycle of their products, including collection, recycling, and disposal. This helps reduce packaging waste, encourages the creation of more environmentally friendly and recyclable materials, and promotes the transition to a circular economy.
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