REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: GOVERNMENT RECYCLING COMMUNICATION PRACTICE IN KAZAKHSTAN, THE CASE OF ASTANA MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

This research aims to examine how the current recycling communication practices are implemented by the Akimat of Astana and measure how well these practices contribute to citizens’ awareness about the recycling issues and facilities in Astana. Despite having extensive facilities for recycling, Astana only recycles 30% of its waste, which is not sufficient enough to reduce the solid waste that goes into landfills. An effective recycling communication policy is necessary to solve this problem, and this research conducts semi-structured interviews with Akimat officials and their contractors, citizens and eco-activists and a survey to learn more about the existing recycling communication tools and their effectiveness. The results of our findings show that there is a lack of a recycling communication policy in Astana. Moreover, the existing recycling communication tools are ineffective and the existing practices have a limited impact on the awareness of citizens.