The UN Environment Programme is helping Kazakhstan address waste problems in its mountainous regions as new survey data shows plastic pollution is worsening even in remote areas worldwide. The UNEP-supported project has set up collection points for plastic, glass, paper, and aluminum in the Ayusai mountain area near Almaty, which attracts up to 3,000 visitors daily during summer months.
A waste compressor installed at the Ayusai visitors’ center reduces waste volume and creates local jobs. The project also established a waste collection hub in Almaty that now receives up to 500 kilograms of plastic waste daily from Ayusai and other areas, connecting remote mountain sites with urban recycling facilities.
Mountain areas face particular challenges with waste management due to high transport costs, harsh weather, and weak infrastructure compared to cities. A survey of 146 mountain guides and snow sport professionals released by the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions found that 63% believe plastic pollution has gotten worse in mountainous regions, with nearly 80% reporting they’ve seen plastic bottles and packaging littering wild areas.
Aidai Kurmanova, head of UNEP’s Central Asia Office, said mountain areas are often overlooked when it comes to waste infrastructure. “This project shows how local action can make a real difference and heal scars on one of Kazakhstan’s touristic natural treasures,” she said.
The initiative is part of a broader project covering 10 other countries across almost every continent, funded by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Norwegian development agencies. It comes as the world prepares for World Environment Day 2025 with the theme “End Plastic Pollution,” while global plastic consumption is expected to reach 516 million tonnes this year with only 9% being recycled.
