Kazakhstan

-There are no NGOs in the country that deal with the ewaste problem specifically, to the extent that the problem of ewaste seems to be non-existent in the country. This is most likely due to the fact that there are many other, more pressing issues related to pollution and the environment, such as pollution from extractive industries and automobiles.

The biggest problem with recycling and proper disposal of ewaste in Kazakhstan is the perception of recycling by the population at large. It appears that the majority of the population in Kazakhstan does not consider recycling as an option. Everything from food waste to used laptop batteries are thrown into the same garbage containers and end up in landfills. People do not sort their garbage – and there is no point for them to do it anyway, as there is always only one dumpster for general waste available. The majority of the population is not educated about the environmental damage caused and the impact ewaste will have on future generations.

-The government has prohibited disposing mercury-containing lamps and devices, scrap metal, waste oils and liquids, batteries and electronic waste in landfills since 2016.

-In the past decade, many of the old but still functioning PCs in Kazakhstan found a second use in businesses, homes and schools that cannot afford new computers. The current PC penetration is thought to be a little over 10%. This shows that the market for PCs in Kazakhstan is far from saturation and more computers will be sold in the country in the near future. However, as government increases its spending on new computers, the disposable incomes of the population rise and PC penetration increases, there will be less demand for used PCs. This is expected to further contribute to ewaste.