Significant price hikes due to utility costs have sparked a petition in Kazakhstan, claiming that prices have doubled.
In a bold move, Kazakhstani activists have taken their grievances online, launching a petition on avaaz.org to scrap the aggravating vehicular recycling fee. This petition, accessible in two dialects, is currently garnering solid backing. Introduced in Kazakhstan back in 2016, the recycling fee, which car owners are saddled with upon vehicle registration, ranges from a hefty 400,000 tenge to an eye-watering 5,500,000 tenge.
The petition argues that the sky-high fee is primarily used for purposes other than recycling old cars. To put things into perspective, recycling fees in countries like Germany only set back owners 100 euros, in the Netherlands it's 30 euros, and in Japan it's a staggering 80 times less than in Kazakhstan. Since the implementation of the recycling fee, car prices in Kazakhstan have virtually doubled, making them the priciest among post-Soviet countries. The inflated prices have led to an increase in automobiles with Russian and Armenian license plates, resulting in a worn-out car fleet that's harmful to the environment.
The petitioners are calling upon everyone to unite behind the campaign for the annihilation of the excessive recycling fee on automotive transport. An earlier petition on the Kazakhstani petition site otinish.kz raked in 40,000 signatures in just 10 days, but unfortunately, the site stopped functioning thereafter.
Enrichment Insights: The current public uproar over Kazakhstan’s car recycling fees revolves around their perceived wastefulness in promoting genuine industrial growth while burdening consumers. For two decades, Kazakhstan’s auto sector has remained heavily dependent on basic assembly of imported parts, failing to develop a domestic brand, despite state support through these fees [1]. Critics argue that the policy prioritizes a non-productive industry through what opponents call a "mummification" of outdated practices, leading to fewer affordable vehicles and an aging national fleet [1]. The #Нетутильсбору movement spearheads these concerns, demanding fee abolition and reallocation of funds to public needs [1].
This situation stands in stark contrast with countries like South Korea, which employ fiscal measures to stimulate demand, whereas EAEU members like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan utilize fees to influence trade patterns—often with mixed public approval [1][3][4]. Moreover, recycling fees combined with higher customs duties in countries like Russia have resulted in a 45.5% drop in EV sales in Q1 2025 [2]. Meanwhile, increased recycling fees in Kyrgyzstan since January 2025, along with upcoming May adjustments, are reducing the profitability of car imports to Russia and other EAEU markets [3]. Conversely, South Korea, while not directly implementing similar fees, has recently provided auto-industry support through tax cuts to offset external pressures like U.S. tariffs [4].
- The petitioners are urging everyone to support their campaign to eliminate the exorbitant vehicle recycling fee in Kazakhstan's automotive industry, which they believe is primarily used for purposes other than recycling old cars.
- The petition on avaaz.org argues that the high recycling fee is causing car prices to skyrocket in Kazakhstan, making them the most expensive among post-Soviet countries.
- The activists' petition also highlights the impact of the high recycling fee on the environment, as it has led to an increase in aging vehicles with foreign license plates, primarily from Russia and Armenia.
- In contrast, countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan have significantly lower recycling fees, which the petitioners argue is more fair and beneficial for consumers.
- The petitioners are not only calling for the abolition of the excessive recycling fee, but also for the reallocation of those funds to address public needs, inspiring the #Нетутильсбору movement in Kazakhstan.
