^a University of St Andrews, College Gate, St Andrews, Scotland, UK

^b Independent Researcher

*Email:  aliya.tskhay@gmail.com

Nazilya Kulpeshova:  nazya9834@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJSCR/2024-R1.v3-1/59-73.eng

Annotation

Waste recycling is a key component of reducing carbon emissions and improving the environment, especially in urban settings. In Central Asia, the legislation and infrastructure needed for waste management are still developing. Thus, campaigns to address knowledge gaps and raise public awareness are mostly carried out at the grassroots level. This article examines the case of recycling promotion through civil society initiatives that also have a charitable component in Almaty. It explores the ethical considerations associated with introducing a recycling culture in the city, drawing on the literature on civil society, environmental ethics and social entrepreneurship. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with recycling fair organizers and non-governmental organizations involved in waste recycling. The article shows that while appealing to people’s ethical considerations to “do good” and contribute to charity, recycling fair organizers also demonstrate the consequences of overconsumption, waste management practices and teach a culture of recycling. The single case of Darmarka in Almaty represents a limitation of the study. Therefore, a more in-depth study of the organization of Darmark events in other cities of Kazakhstan and the CIS, as well as similar initiatives in other Central Asian countries, is recommended in the future. This is an important contribution to understanding what challenges and opportunities exist in promoting waste recycling in Central Asia, which can be useful for national governments, experts and international organizations working in this field.

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