Since the 1990s, energy has been at the heart of China’s engagement with Central Asia. What began with oil and gas pipelines has, in recent years, expanded into solar and wind, reflecting Beijing’s push toward greener development. Now, a new frontier is opening: waste-to-energy (WtE).
Across the region, Chinese companies are moving into this sector, linking waste management with electricity generation. The development of these plants addresses a critical challenge faced by many developing countries: limited waste processing facilities and inadequate disposal areas, which significantly contribute to environmental degradation.
WtE plants offer a dual benefit, not only reducing waste volumes by up to ninety percent, but also converting this waste into electricity. In fast-urbanizing Central Asia, where demand for both energy and sustainable infrastructure is rising, this model offers a practical solution to mounting waste management issues.
Domestic Lessons and the Push Abroad
China’s global prominence in WtE stems from its own domestic experience. Rapid urbanization and industrial growth have created a surge in waste levels, prompting authorities to adopt large-scale solutions.
Domestic manufacturers and construction companies became capable of producing equipment and building facilities at significantly reduced costs. This growth transformed WtE into a cornerstone of China’s waste management strategy and established a strong and competitive industry foundation.
Yet this success at home also produced new challenges. Much like in renewable energy and electric vehicles, the rapid growth of WtE capacity in China has outpaced demand. Domestic overcapacity pushed companies to search for new opportunities abroad. Central Asia quickly became one of the promising destinations where Chinese firms could apply their experience, export their technology, and secure additional revenue streams.
This shift can already be seen on the ground. Privately-owned Chinese firm Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection is leading several WtE projects in the region, including Kazakhstan’s first WtE plant in Almaty, the nation’s largest city and commercial hub, and a facility in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital. In Uzbekistan, the state-run Waste Management Agency has signed an agreement with another Chinese company, Shanghai SUS Environment, to develop similar projects using advanced technologies.
Win-Win: Cost-Effective Solutions for Growing Markets
In Uzbekistan only about 32 percent of household waste is recycled, with the restending up in unsanitary landfills. In Kazakhstan, the challenge is even greater, with the massive accumulation of industrial and municipal solid waste reaching nearly one billion tons each year, of which only a small fraction is recycled. In this regard, WtE facilities can reduce these threats while creating usable electricity.
For example, SUS Enviroment’s project in Uzbekistan will process up to 1,500 tons of waste per day, while Junxin’s projects in Kazakhstan will be capable of incinerating at least 1,600 tons daily. Chinese firms can build these facilities at roughly $250 per annual ton of capacity—significantly cheaper than international competitors—making the projects accessible for governments that are balancing limited budgets with growing environmental pressures.
Beyond revenue and cost efficiencies, WtE projects support China’s strategic positioning in the region. These projects align with Central Asian governments’ goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering reliance on fossil fuels. By converting waste into electricity, such projects provide an alternative source of energy that helps meet domestic demand while also supporting national decarbonization strategies.
Framing WtE within the broader portfolio of renewable projects allows Beijing to strengthen its image as a partner in the global energy transition. Just as solar and wind power projects have enabled China to demonstrate its ability to deliver affordable clean energy solutions, WtE plants highlight its capacity to offer integrated approaches that combine environmental management with electricity generation.
The Double-Edged Sword: Environmental Benefits vs. Regulatory Risks
For China, WtE cooperation is more than an economic venture. It also delivers broader geopolitical and reputational gains.
By investing in renewable energy and WtE projects across Central Asia, China not only showcases its technological capabilities but also locks in demand for its equipment, standards, and expertise. In addition, in advancing renewable energy and WtE capacity, Central Asian states can gradually reduce their dependence on imported energy resources from Russia, indirectly weakening Moscow’s traditional influence while deepening China’s presence.
By supporting projects that mitigate emissions, create local employment opportunities, and address pressing environmental challenges, Beijing aims to reduce anti-China sentiment and foster more positive perceptions among Central Asian societies. WtE plants in particular offer visible and immediate benefits, turning environmental hazards into usable electricity.
Despite these advantages, there are also significant risks that could undermine Beijing’s goals. Profit-driven companies may choose to establish facilities in countries with weaker environmental regulations, raising concerns about long-term safety and accountability.
Lessons from China’s own domestic experience underline this challenge. In several second- and third-tier cities, WtE plants were built at lower costs but with less stringent standards than those applied in Europe.
While the technology can meet the highest international emission standards, insufficient transparency and weak monitoring have often led to public distrust, especially regarding pollutants such as dioxins. The incineration process also produces hazardous byproducts like fly ash, which contains heavy metals and toxins, requiring strict management.
If similar shortcomings appear in Central Asia, the reputational benefits China hopes to achieve may be eroded. Instead of fostering goodwill, poorly regulated or inadequately monitored projects could fuel anti-China sentiment over time.
Redefining Regional Partnerships Through Green Technology
China’s push into waste-to-energy projects in Central Asia captures the dual nature of Beijing’s regional strategy.
On one hand, it offers solutions that address urgent environmental challenges, reduce landfill dependency, and provide cleaner sources of electricity at a cost Central Asian states can afford.
On the other hand, it opens a pathway for China to entrench itself as the region’s indispensable energy partner at a moment when reliance on Russian resources is under increasing scrutiny.
The success of this cooperation hinges on a simple but decisive factor: whether China can prove that its waste-to-energy projects are not just cheap and efficient, but also safe, transparent, and environmentally sound.
If it succeeds, Beijing will not only reshape the energy landscape of Central Asia but also reinforce its broader narrative as a responsible global partner in the green transition. If it fails, the region’s waste could become a political liability rather than a strategic advantage.
Yunis Sharifli is CGSP’s Non-Resident Fellow for Central Asia.
