Problems of effective waste management: a case of the Aktobe landfill

Today, the issue of efficient waste management is significant, as urban dumping grounds, serving as waste disposal sites, pose a significant environmental and societal challenge. This matter holds particular relevance for the city of Aktobe, given its stature not only as one of Kazakhstan’s largest cities but also as a crucial economic and industrial hub in the region.

This study aims to pinpoint the primary issues within Aktobe’s waste management system and devise specific recommendations geared towards streamlining processes to mitigate environmental harm and alleviate burdens on the local populace. Employing quantitative research methods, we conducted an analysis of statistical data pertaining to waste generation and processing levels in Aktobe. Furthermore, a survey was administered to pinpoint and dissect issues associated with the city’s landfill, and to gauge residents’ opinions and suggestions regarding effective management strategies. The survey encompassed diverse inquiries concerning problem identification, frequency, evaluation of existing programs’ effectiveness, and proposals for enhancement. In Aktobe, a survey was conducted among randomly selected residents and personnel from specialized environmental institutions, yielding feedback from 126 participants.

The research has affirmed that issues at landfills, notably odors, detrimentally affect air quality and living standards. The findings of this study can serve as a practical foundation for devising and executing measures to enhance landfill management in Aktobe. This endeavor will also facilitate a deeper comprehension of the issue and the formulation of an efficacious strategy for resolution, benefitting future generations.

1. Siddiqua A., Hahladakis J.N., Al-Attiya W.A.K.A. (2022) An overview of the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling and open dumping. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. №29. Vol. 39. P. 58514-58536. [in English]

2. Abubakar I.R., Maniruzzaman K.M., Dano U.L., AlShihri F.S., AlShammari M.S., Ahmed S.M.S., Al-Gehlani W.A.G., Alrawaf T.I. (2022) Environmental Sustainability Impacts of Solid Waste Management Practices in the Global South. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. №19. P. 1-26. [in English]

3. El-Fadel M., Maalouf A. (2020) Challenges of Waste Management in a Developing Context: Lessons From Lebanon. Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies/ eds. A. Pariatamby, F. Shahul Hamid, M.S. Bhatti. IGI Global. Challenges of Waste Management in a Developing Context. P. 166-185. [in English]

4. Bekezhanov D. Problemy i perspektivy utilizacii tverdyh bytovyh othodov v Respublike Kazahstan [Problems and prospects for recycling solid household waste in the Republic of Kazakhstan]. Vestnik KazNU Seriya YUridicheskaya. №81(1). 2017. P. 226-233. [in Russian]

5. Uzakpaeva D.A., Araslanova L.H. Ekologicheski bezopasnoe obrashchenie s tverdymi kommunal'nymi othodami na poligone TOO «Neoplus» Respubliki Kazahstan [Environmentally safe management of municipal solid waste at the landfill of “Neoplus” LLP in the Republic of Kazakhstan]. Obrashchenie s othodami: sovremennoe sostoyanie i perspektivy Obrashchenie s othodami: sovremennoe sostoyanie i perspektivy. — Ufa: Ufimskij gosudarstvennyj neftyanoj tekhnicheskij universitet. 2021. P. 43-48. [in Russian]

6. Solopova V.A., Pavlova T.V., Kosacheva K.A. Ekologicheskie problemy Aktyubinskoj oblasti [Environmental problems of Aktobe region]. Universitetskij kompleks kak regional'nyj centr obrazovaniya, nauki i kul'tury. 2021. P. 947-950. [in Russian]

7. Auezova Z., Ospan G. Sovremennye tendencii i perspektivy ekonomicheskogo i social'nogo razvitiya Aktyubinskoj oblasti [Current trends and prospects for economic and social development of the Aktobe region]. Evrazijskij soyuz uchyonyh. №34(1). 2017. P. 40-49. [in Russian]

8. Godyna N.N., Omarov A.M. Problema utilizacii TBO v Kazahstane [The problem of solid waste disposal in Kazakhstan]. Upravlenie kachestvom: poisk i resheniya. №11. 2017. P. 340-347. [in Russian]

9. Mejrbekov A.T., Erimova A.ZH. Sposob uluchshenie sistemy upravlenie sbora i pererabotki tverdyh bytovyh othodov [Method for improving the management system for collecting and processing solid household waste]. Mezhdunarodnyj zhurnal eksperimental'nogo obrazovaniya Problemy ekologicheskogo monitoringa. №3. 2015. P. 394-396. [in Russian]

10. Akimbaev A.K., Arimzhanova A.K., Orazbaeva E.E. Ot othodov k pribyli: sortirovka othodov kak sposob ih sokrashcheniya [From waste to profit: sorting waste as a way to reduce it]. Obrazovanie: nauchnoe vzaimodejstvie v obrazovatel'nom processe. Kazan. 2018. P. 340-343. [in Russian]

11. Serikbaev S.B., Ermekova S.E. O nekotoryh voprosah pererabotki musora v Kazahstane [Sоme issues of waste recycling in Kazakhstan]. Innovacionnye tendencii razvitiya nauki i praktiki Innovacionnye tendencii razvitiya nauki i praktiki. 2017. P. 150-152. [in Russian]

12. Kamalov T.R. Napravlenie vnedreniya razdelennogo sbora othodov v Respublike Kazahstan [Direction of implementation of separated waste collection in the Republic of Kazakhstan]. Vestnik Omskogo regional'nogo instituta. №3. 2019. P. 140-144. [in Russian]

13. SHamhoryan A.G., Surankulov SH.ZH. Formirovanie musoropererabatyvayushchego zavoda - velenie vremeni [The formation of a waste recycling plant is the call of the times]. Vestnik Evrazijskogo nacional'nogo universiteta imeni L.N. Gumileva. Seriya Tekhnicheskie nauki i tekhnologii. №123(2). 2018. P. 104-108. [in Russian]

14. ZHakupova S.T. Ekonomicheskij aspekt utilizacii i pererabotki othodov v Kazahstane [Economic aspect of waste disposal and processing in Kazakhstan]. Ekonomika: strategiya i praktika. №45(1). 2018. P. 111-119. [in Russian]

15. Mazelli M., Ferrari A. Vtoraya zhizn' musora, ili Kak sdelat' othody poleznymi [The second life of garbage, or How to make waste useful]. Moskva: Izdatel'skij Dom Meshcheryakova. 2019. 80 p. [in Russian]

16. QR Ūlttyq Statistika Bürosy. Käsıporyndar jäne ūiymdar boiynşa ırıkteuge, kädege jaratuğa jäne saqtauğa kelıp tüsken qaldyqtar kölemı (2013) [Volume of waste received for selection, disposal and storage by enterprises and organizations]. Available at: — URL: https://stat.gov.kz/industries/environment/stat-eco/spreadsheets/?year=2013&name=115074&period=&type= (accessed: 12.03.2024) [in Kazakh]

17. QR Ūlttyq Statistika Bürosy. Käsıporyndar jäne ūiymdar boiynşa ırıkteuge, kädege jaratuğa jäne saqtauğa kelıp tüsken qaldyqtar kölemı (2023) [Volume of waste received for selection, disposal and storage by enterprises and organizations]. Available at: — URL: https://stat.gov.kz/industries/environment/stat-eco/spreadsheets/?year=2023&name=19268&period=&type= (accessed: 12.03.2024) [in Kazakh]

18. QR Ūlttyq Statistika Bürosy. Respondentterdıñ aua tazalyğymen (qaldyqtardyñ, tütınnıñ, şañnyñ jäne topyraqtyñ bolmauy) qanağattanuy turaly pıkırı [Respondents’ opinion on satisfaction with air cleanliness (lack of waste, smoke, dust and soil)]. Available at: — URL: https://stat.gov.kz/green-economy-indicators/204/ (accessed: 12.03.2024) [in Kazakh]