“Taza Qazaqstan”: Kozybayev University Opens an Ecohub Where Waste Is Turned into New Opportunities

From a presidential initiative to concrete environmental action. Kozybayev University held the official opening of an Ecohub, an educational and practical space established in support of “Taza Qazaqstan,” a nationwide initiative launched by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Here, students will not only study environmental issues but also recycle plastic, create products from secondary raw materials, and develop solutions to environmental challenges facing the region. The Ecohub will bring together education, science, business, and government agencies around a common goal: fostering a culture of responsible consumption and promoting a circular economy.

The Ecohub’s social partners include Raduga LLP, the Department of Ecology for North Kazakhstan Region, the North Kazakhstan branch of the Baytaq Green Party of Kazakhstan, the Ecodvizh volunteer organization, and the Youth Resource Center of North Kazakhstan Region.

It took just one year to turn the idea into a functioning facility. The Ecohub’s technical and material resources were established, in part, through the university’s participation in the “3.2.1 Start” project and the support of Coca-Cola, which donated equipment worth KZT 5 million.

A shredder, an injection molding machine, and a press will make it possible to complete the entire plastic recycling cycle, from shredding raw materials to manufacturing finished products. The facility will produce souvenirs, conduct research, support student initiatives, and teach schoolchildren the basics of waste recycling.

“Approximately 400 students study at the Department of Geography and Ecology of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The Ecohub will give them an opportunity to gain practical plastic recycling skills and incorporate environmentally friendly habits into their daily lives. It is also important that schoolchildren will be involved in this work, because environmental awareness begins with simple everyday actions,” said Anna Kornilova, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. She added that recycled plastic can already be used to make souvenirs, including keychains.

It is worth noting that paper collection boxes have been installed in all university buildings. In cooperation with Raduga LLP, students are also being taught how to sort waste.

Another key area of the Ecohub’s work is addressing the region’s real-world waste management challenges. Raduga LLP, a project partner, is working with municipal and regional public utilities to develop a municipal waste management program. A new landfill and a waste sorting facility are planned for the region, requiring modern approaches to waste collection, storage, and transportation.

“We are discussing with the university the creation of a digital platform and the involvement of students in developing a waste management program. Our company currently processes approximately 5,000 tonnes of polyethylene, waste paper, and cardboard annually. We plan to increase our recycling volumes three- to fourfold in the future. We are counting on you, young people! Perhaps very soon you will join us as environmental specialists, technologists, and engineers,” said Pyotr Sharapayev, Executive Director of Raduga LLP.

The Ecohub will also serve as a platform for scientific research. Students and master’s degree students are already working on environmental projects: studying polymer recycling methods, monitoring water quality, investigating natural processes, and creating thematic maps. Schoolchildren, university faculty, and volunteers from the Zhasyl Team movement will also participate in environmental education activities.

“Today, young people and schoolchildren are beginning to think about recycling plastic, waste paper, and aluminum at an increasingly early age. Our task is to nurture this interest and create opportunities for new environmental initiatives. The Ecohub is a space full of possibilities, where knowledge is put into practice,” said Adilkhan Tolepbergen, Member of the Board of Kozybayev University for Social and Cultural Development.

On behalf of the university, he invited everyone interested to contribute to the development of a sustainable environmental community.

“Make use of this space and come explore it. The doors of the Ecohub are open to everyone who wants to learn more about environmental initiatives and contribute to protecting the environment,” Adilkhan Tolepbergen said.

The importance of this cooperation was emphasized by Askhat Mapenov, Head of the State Environmental Control Division of the Department of Ecology for North Kazakhstan Region:

“Waste management is one of the key areas in the transition to a green economy. Waste should become a resource, and achieving this requires joint efforts from science, business, government, and society. The Ecohub helps foster a responsible attitude toward the environment and demonstrates how important every individual’s contribution is.”

The event concluded with the environmental campaign “Let’s Start with Ourselves.” Participants pledged to sort waste, reduce plastic use, conserve water and electricity, and support environmental initiatives.