Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Over the past decade, global actions in relation to the circular economy (or the closed cycle economy) have led to the fact that the concept has currently been established in many states as the main component of solving environmental problems. Circular economy is a new way of creating value. Unlike the linear model in the economy of the closed cycle, products are designed for durability, re -use and suitability for secondary processing.

The circular model of the economy helps countries:

Fight key factors of the environment, such as pollution, depletion of resources, loss of biodiversity;

Contribute to progress in achieving the goals of the UN in the field of sustainable development through the creation of stable models of production and consumption (SDG 12), the fight against climate change (SDG 13);

Stimulate innovations, new business activity and employment in this area.

Throughout the world, the pace of waste formation is growing every year.

According to the World Bank, in 2020, in the world per capita, on average, 0.79 kg of waste per day, in general, in a year, 2.24 billion metric tons of solid waste was formed in a year. Only 17% of this solid waste is processed, most of the 83% (1.86 billion tons) includes waste that is ultimately buried, burned or disposed of in a different way. It is expected that due to the rapid growth of the population and urbanization, the annual waste formation will increase by 73% compared to the level of 2020 to 3.88 billion tons in 2050. The global waste volume will be an average of 1.09 kg of waste per capita per day.

In this regard, many countries are taking measures to reduce the formation of solid waste and create conditions for secondary use or processing of products.

In 2015, the European Commission approved the action plan to accelerate the transition of the continent to the circular economy. The plan aimed at “closing the life cycle” of products includes 54 measures for sustainable consumption, production and rational regulation of waste, wider recirculation and re -use, and the creation of a secondary raw materials market. The actions are concentrated on five sectors: plastic, food waste, the most important raw materials, construction and demolition of buildings, biomass and biof products.

In 2018, the European commission adopted:

The EU strategy for the use of plastics in the circular economy, which is based on the design and production of plastics and plastic products, taking into account the need for re -use, repair and processing, as well as the development and promotion of environmentally friendly materials.

The progress monitoring system in the direction of the closed cycle covers various aspects at all stages of the life cycle of resources, products and services, namely: (I) production and consumption, (II) waste management, (III) secondary raw materials and (IV) competitiveness and innovation .

In March 2020, in the framework of the Green Deal, a new plan of action on the circular economy (Circular Economy Action Plan) was introduced, aimed at long preserving resources and combining measures for state authorities, business and consumers.

Netherlands

The Netherlands are one of the most ambitious European countries from the point of view of the desire to create a circular economy. The Government of the Netherlands has an ambitious project “Economics of a closed cycle in the Netherlands by 2050”, which establishes guiding principles for reducing the use of resources by 50% by 2030 and a complete transition to a non -waste circular economy by 2050. As part of this project, a number of transition programs focused on five sectors, including the construction sector, were approved in 2018. In this regard, all government buildings built since then should have a zero level of emissions and contain as many recirculated materials and resources as possible.

In 2019, the HET VERSNELLINGSHUIS Nederland Circulair business support network was launched (Dutch circular accelerator), based on cooperation between government organizations and entrepreneurship agencies. The accelerator provides entrepreneurs with recommendations with experience and knowledge in the field of the closed cycle, and also works on industry transitions.

France

In 2018, France developed and approved a tracking map of the closed cycle economy, which includes 50 measures for 100% of the circular economy in four key priority areas: the best production, the best consumption, the best waste management and attracting all interested parties.

In 2020, a law was adopted to combat waste in order to eliminate waste and pollution, as well as transforming a production system, distribution and consumption from a linear economic model to a circular model. One of the goals contained in the law is a phased rejection of disposable plastic packaging by 2040.

The waste control program also envisages:

Adding a plastic filter from microfiber to new washing machines in order to prevent the dispersion of the microfolocyon of polyester and acrylic fibers in the oceans. The measure will affect new cars entering the market from 2025.

Information of consumers by manufacturers about the possible presence of endocrine destroyers in consumer products.

Informing customers of Internet and telephone operators about carbon cost of their digital consumption. That is, when consuming several GB of the Internet by the user, the operator tells him the equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2021 under the law an obligatory index of repairs of electronic and electric products was introduced, which implies labeling devices with an assessment of the degree of maintenance.

Germany

In order to transform its economy into a circular system of production and consumption, Germany adopted the “Law on Substances and Speaking Cycles” (Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz) of the German industry to manage the “prevention, then recovery, and then removal".

In the program adopted in 2012, Germany has determined the goals, principles and approaches to the preservation of natural resources in 6 directions: raw materials, production, consumption, construction, information and communication technologies (ICT), through tools, including research, innovation, education and legal framework.

In 2016, the National Programme for Sustainable Consumption (NPNK), which contains political concepts and sustainable consumption actions, taking into account a large number of consumer sectors was adopted.

In 2017, in order to support the program, the Center for Sustainable Consumption (KNK) was created, the work of which is aimed at strengthening incentives for innovative approaches, which contribute to sustainable consumption and stimulate a wider national discussion about lifestyle and change in values.

Italy

The Italian budget Law for 2020 contains measures that help the country observe a “green course”, which stipulates the creation of a state investment fund to promote innovative projects in the field of sustainable development, circular economy, sustainable tourism, decarbonization and mitigate the consequences of climate change.

Italy is also one of the countries with the highest level of environmental management and audit (EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme - EMAS) and takes the second place in eco -brackings in the EU.

The legislative draft adopted in 2020 imposes strict obligations to comply with environmental marking standards on the participants of the supply chain, making environmental labeling mandatory products in Italy in all of existing products.

Manufacturers should use codes to indicate the type and number of packaging materials used to facilitate identification and classification, re -use, disposal and processing of packaging, providing consumers with information about the proper processing of waste after expiration date.

Japan

Japan at an early stage began to pursue an ambitious policy, already in 2000 the Japanese government adopted the "Basic Law on the creation of a circular society."

In 2003, a fundamental plan for creating a sustainable material cycle society was adopted, which laid the foundation for the development of a regulatory framework for the economy of a closed cycle in Japan. The government is reviewing the plan every five years, in the fourth plan it is noted that financial institutions and investors must provide funds to companies, non -profit organizations and projects that work on the creation of a “healthy material cycle society”. There are three main drivers in the plan: - regional activation through the formation of circular and environmental systems; - complete processing of resources during the life cycle; - promotion of proper disposal, restoration of resources and the environment.

To further promote the economy of a closed cycle in Japan, the concept of the closed cycle for 2020 (Circular Economy Vision 2020), designed to stimulate the development of digital technologies, the transition to new business models with higher cyclicity and increasing the efficiency of resource use, was announced. She also developed a strategy for the resource circulation for plastics (Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics), aimed at solving the problem of waste disposable plastics.

China

In China in 2021, the National Development Commission and Reforms approved the development plan of the closed cycle for the period of the 14th five-year plan for 2021–2025, in which one of the key goals is an increase in resource performance by 20 % by 2025 compared to 2020 of the year. As part of the plan, measures will be taken in relation to the following projects:

• Construction of a system of disposal of urban waste

• Development of a secondary processing park

• Complex disposal of bulk solid waste

• Disposal of construction waste

• Key innovation in the field of technology and equipment

• Improving the processing and disposal of electrical waste and electronic products

• Driving a life cycle of vehicles

• Combating plastic pollution

• Promotion of environmentally friendly packaging for delivery and logistics

• disposal of used batteries

At the state level, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with other ministries, oversees the "Exchange of the Old for Restored" system.

The system customers receive a 10% discount when exchanging their old equipment for a restored one.

Other example of the development of the circular economy is Gem Co. Ltd

- Leading market leader in the field of materials processing in China. One of the activities of the company is associated with the disposal of batteries. To support the Chinese industry for the production of electric and connected hybrid cars, the company processes more than 10% of all used batteries, extracting nickel and cobalt to create chemicals that can be used to produce new electric vehicles.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan also strives for the introduction and development of the economy of a closed cycle in the country. In 2019, the “Strategy for the management of solid waste in the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period 2019-2028” was approved, which provides for the creation of an effective and modern system for processing solid household waste. The strategy provides for the achievement of such target indicators as ensuring the processing of at least 60% of the formed solid waste generated, an increase in the volume of processing of specific solid waste of up to 25% and a reduction in the volume of solid household waste directed for burial for landfills, to 60%.

In the country there are 183 enterprises for the processing of solid household waste with a total processing capacity of 894 thousand tons per year. In addition, in 9 cities of the republic, clusters were created with a total processing capacity of more than a million tons per year, based on the sorting of incoming mixed solid waste to extract secondary material resources and their processing.

Since March 2021, a separate waste collection system has been operating in the city of Tashkent, according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 15 December 2020 "On measures to improve activities in the field of handling and construction waste in the city of Tashkent."

According to the new decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 11 August 2022 "On priority measures to reform the system of organization of waste management", for entrepreneurship and sanitary cleaning enterprises, deductions of 5% of the fee charged for the provision of sanitary cleaning services were canceled in the republican association of specialized sanitary cleaning enterprises and in the centers for the organization of sanitary cleaning services.

For organizations operating in the field of circulation of household, construction and medical waste, the lists approved in the prescribed manner extended the benefits for the period until 1 August 2025, stipulates the exemption from customs payments of imported special equipment, technological equipment, spare parts and components not produced in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The transition to the circular economy is a common responsibility at all levels of the government and interested parties. National governments can support the transition to the closed cycle economy, providing a comprehensive political basis, regulatory, financial and economic instruments for all levels of government that will allow local and regional authorities to form their own vision of the closed cycle on the basis of common goals and objectives. Governments should also be carried out by campaigns and provide a circular economy with a place in education.

The closed cycle economy, developed thoughtfully and inclusively, can protect the environment, improve the economy and increase social justice.

Dilyara Sultanova,

Senior Researcher of IPMI