Recycling robbery: 1.13 trillion tenge enters the auto industry through Sklyar and Lavrentyev as Kazakhstan suffocates in smoke from burning landfills

During the night of July 10, a landfill used for solid waste caught fire in Astana's Baikonir area.

The fire engulfed about three hectares, the extinguishing lasted three days. The authorities reported that the fire had been completely extinguished, but experts claim that the fire was simply sprinkled with sand and soil. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that about 15 thousand tons of soil were delivered to the landfill. The burning continues underground, and without heavy downpours it is almost impossible to extinguish it.

In May, a landfill near Karaganda burned in the same way; residents of the village of Doskey suffocated from acrid smoke. Test sites near Almaty, Semey, Aktobe, Pavlodar, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Atyrau are regularly burning.

Ten years ago, a recycling fee was introduced under the slogans of improving the environment. People hoped that the money would go towards clean air and modern waste recycling. According to JSC «Zhasyl Damu», in 2022–2025, 1.13 trillion tenge was transferred to the operator’s account. Of these, 498 billion tenge (about 44%) went directly to Kazakh manufacturers of cars and agricultural machinery.

Another 451.5 billion tenge (about 40%) was allocated to finance the manufacturing industry. 100 billion - for preferential car loans at 4%, 80 billion - for preferential leasing of buses and equipment. In total, about 60% of the funds directly or indirectly went to support the automobile industry. At the same time, they do not produce electric cars and hydrogen cars, but assemble vehicle kits from China. Over the same years, only 1.3 billion tenge was spent on waste collection, removal, processing and disposal, which is 0.11% of the funds collected. One thousandth of a part.

The scheme, according to media reports, was invented by ex-Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, the documents were signed by Askar Mamin. The main beneficiary was automobile tycoon Andrey Lavrentyev. The President was informed that the auto industry would be incredibly developed.

For 1.13 trillion tenge it was possible to build more than ten modern waste processing plants throughout Kazakhstan, as in Japan and Scandinavia. Such factories not only solve the problem of garbage, but also provide raw materials and electricity.

Sklyar and Lavrentyev don’t give a damn about the environment. While they live in luxury apartments with powerful air purification systems, ordinary people continue to breathe the smoke of burning landfills and wrap wet rags around the faces of their children.

The schemers in power should remember the Kazakh proverb: «Otpen oinama - kuyersin». Fire among the people can also flare up suddenly.