Trash bins in Bishkek, being an important element of urban infrastructure, help maintain cleanliness on the streets. Their placement and maintenance is managed by the municipal enterprise "Tazalyk." However, residents of the capital notice that the number of bins on the streets is decreasing.
Current statistics: how many bins are there in Bishkek?
According to the city hall, there are over 2,300 bins installed in Bishkek, located in high-traffic areas: parks, squares, and bus stops.The distribution by districts is as follows:
- Oktyabrsky — about 850 bins;
- Leninsky — 218 bins;
- Pervomaisky — 665 bins;
- Sverdlovsky — 630 bins.
Employees of "Tazalyk" regularly check the condition of the bins and empty them.
Nevertheless, many citizens believe that this number of bins is insufficient.
The accessibility issue: the need to carry trash with you
On Baytik Baatyr Street, instead of two bins at the bus stops, there is only one left. A similar situation is observed in other areas. For example, along one kilometer from Kulatov Street to Bokonbaev Street, there are only two bins. This creates difficulties for those who want to dispose of their trash, and often people have to put it in their bags.When the nearest trash can is far away, not everyone is willing to carry their trash. As a result, plastic bottles, packaging, and bags often end up on the ground, lawns, and in ditches.
Residents are wondering: is this a result of cost-cutting or indifference to the problem? After all, it is easier to empty trash from bins than to collect it from sidewalks.
After rain or watering, water washes trash from the ditches back onto the streets.
Thus, a vicious circle arises: trash is cleaned up, but soon it reappears.
Removal of bins: what happens next?
In the summer, the problem becomes particularly noticeable. In parks and boulevards, the limited number of bins fills up quickly, and trash accumulates nearby.Some bins have been removed, and those that were damaged in traffic accidents are not always replaced. The city hall clarified that there is no exact statistics on the number of removed bins. Usually, they are repaired and installed in other locations, so there is no separate accounting.
Tazalyk's strategy: will reducing the number of bins help combat landfills?
The director of "Tazalyk," Zholdosh Chushtukov, noted that while there are bins, they are intended only for small trash, such as cigarette butts and packaging. He added that some residents throw household waste in them in whole bags, which leads to quick filling.
In our city, there are many trash bins, but we have noticed that trash accumulates around them, especially in the summer.
Zholdosh Chushtukov
Previously, bins were installed every 50 meters, but now the distance has increased. However, they are still located at intersections and bus stops, emphasizes the head of "Tazalyk."
According to the enterprise workers, in some places, after the removal of bins, spontaneous landfills have disappeared. In new areas added to the city, bins continue to be installed.
Zholdosh Chushtukov added that if residents specify particular locations where bins are needed, the enterprise is ready to consider such proposals.
Comprehensive approach: how fines and awareness can change the situation
Many residents believe that the problem needs to be addressed comprehensively: installing additional bins in necessary locations, regularly cleaning them, and conducting educational work with the population. It is also important to strengthen control and introduce fines for littering in unauthorized places, as well as to clean ditches to prevent waste from returning to the streets.
Trash bins are an important element of the system that affects the health, appearance, and comfort of the city. However, the efforts of municipal services are not enough. If some work on maintaining order while others continue to throw trash in ditches and on sidewalks, the problem will not disappear.
