RESEARCH INTO THE PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTING NEW MECHANISMS OF TRANSBOUNDARY INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF WASTE RECYCLING IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

This study examines the transition of Central Asian countries from a linear economic model to a circular economy under conditions of increasing environmental pressure and institutional fragmentation. The research problem is associated with the inconsistency of legal regimes, the asynchronous participation of states in international environmental conventions, and the absence of unified waste accounting standards, all of which hinder the development of regional recycling value chains.

The aim of the study is to develop a scientifically grounded model for transboundary institutional cooperation in the field of waste recycling in Central Asia. The research applies a mixed-methods approach, including comparative institutional analysis, content analysis of international reports, and semi-structured expert interviews.

The findings demonstrate the relative effectiveness of the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model in Uzbekistan and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in Kazakhstan. At the same time, critical barriers were identified, including energy shortages, weak statistical monitoring systems, legal fragmentation, and dependence on donor financing.

The study concludes that sustainable regional integration in waste management requires coordinated supranational mechanisms, digital monitoring systems, and harmonized regulatory approaches within regional cooperation platforms such as CAREC and ICSD IFAS.