TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES

Gulzhamal Aliyeva; Luis Angel Espinosa

TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES

Abstract

This article analyses Kazakhstan’s waste management policy in the context of increasing global environmental challenges and the country’s transition to a circular economy. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative document analysis of the post-2021 governance framework, including laws, subordinate acts, policy programmes, and official institutional materials. It is complemented by descriptive analysis of official statistics, and the findings are synthesised through a SWOT framework. The analysis highlights that, despite regulatory modernisation following the 2021 Environmental Code, implementation remains uneven due to infrastructure gaps, weak incentives, limited citizen participation, and persistent data inaccuracies. Particular attention is paid to municipal solid waste and e-waste, with municipal-level dynamics illustrated through the Astana waste management programme (2024–2028). The SWOT-based discussion links these constraints to policy priorities, including digitalisation of waste-flow accounting and registers, strengthened local implementation capacity, enforcement, and investment- oriented instruments to expand sorting and recycling.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study did not require approval from an ethics committee as it did not involve human participants, animals, or sensitive personal data. All data used in this research were obtained from publicly available sources.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Economic Theory (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gulzhamal Aliyeva ^* This is me
0009-0001-6088-3808
Kazakhstan

Luis Angel Espinosa This is me
0000-0003-0059-3953
Portugal

Publication Date

May 1, 2026

Submission Date

August 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Aliyeva, G., & Espinosa, L. A. (2026). TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. Eurasian Research Journal, 8(2), 117-139. https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL

AMA

1.Aliyeva G, Espinosa LA. TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. ERJ. 2026;8(2):117-139. https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL

Chicago

Aliyeva, Gulzhamal, and Luis Angel Espinosa. 2026. “TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES”. Eurasian Research Journal 8 (2): 117-39. https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL.

EndNote

Aliyeva G, Espinosa LA (May 1, 2026) TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. Eurasian Research Journal 8 2 117–139.

IEEE

[1]G. Aliyeva and L. A. Espinosa, “TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES”, ERJ, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 117–139, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL

ISNAD

Aliyeva, Gulzhamal - Espinosa, Luis Angel. “TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES”. Eurasian Research Journal 8/2 (May 1, 2026): 117-139. https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL.

JAMA

1.Aliyeva G, Espinosa LA. TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. ERJ. 2026;8:117–139.

MLA

Aliyeva, Gulzhamal, and Luis Angel Espinosa. “TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES”. Eurasian Research Journal, vol. 8, no. 2, May 2026, pp. 117-39, https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL.

Vancouver

1.Gulzhamal Aliyeva, Luis Angel Espinosa. TRANSITIONING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN KAZAKHSTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. ERJ [Internet]. 2026 May 1;8(2):117-39. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA57CN35EL