A ceremonial handover of 50 new waste collection vehicles took place in Almaty, marking a significant step in modernizing the city’s sanitation infrastructure. The new fleet was delivered to Aq Tártіp, Almaty’s largest solid waste management operator, according to a statement from the Ministry of Ecology of Kazakhstan.
The vehicles were procured through a government program funded by recycling and disposal fees collected nationwide.
The event was attended by the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akim (mayor) of Almaty, representatives from Zhasyldamu JSC, the Industrial Development Fund, as well as members of the business community and civil society. The total cost of the project amounted to 3.3 billion tenge. Financing was provided through a preferential loan from Zhasyldamu via the Industrial Development Fund at a 3% annual interest rate for a term of up to seven years.
“This project is a clear example of how recycling fees are being reinvested into the national economy,” said Ecology Minister Yerlan Nysanbayev. “It not only supports local manufacturing but also contributes to long-term improvements in the environmental landscape across the country.”
The waste trucks were manufactured domestically at the SaryarkaAvtoProm plant in Kostanay. Built on the JAC N200 platform, they feature Euro-5 standard diesel engines, 12-cubic-meter rear-loading systems, and Turkish-made hydraulic units. Each is also equipped with a crane-manipulator that extends up to 6.3 meters, making them suitable for servicing underground waste containers.
According to Almaty’s Akim, Darkhan Satybaldy, the city collects approximately 1,500 tons of solid household waste daily, using a fleet of 283 specialized vehicles.
“Upgrading our fleet with these new vehicles will boost operational efficiency and reduce the strain on our existing equipment,” Satybaldy stated. “This is a major step toward building a modern, sustainable waste management system and advancing the principles of the green economy that Almaty is firmly committed to.”
Aq Tártіp, which serves over 1 million residents and 14,000 businesses in Almaty, said the new vehicles would significantly improve the timeliness and quality of waste removal services. The project is also expected to create more than 50 new jobs and enhance dispatch and monitoring capabilities.
The initiative is part of the nationwide “Taza Qazaqstan” environmental program and is one of 63 infrastructure projects aimed at overhauling waste management systems across the country.