Medical waste has been discovered at a municipal solid waste landfill near the village of Baikonyz, Baiterek district, West Kazakhstan Region (WKR). Specialists have confirmed the presence of used syringes and test tubes containing biomaterials and have launched an investigation.
HOW THE VIOLATIONS WERE DETECTED
According to the publication "My City", information about the medical waste at the landfill initially spread on social media. On 5 June 2026, staff from the Baiterek district sanitary and epidemiological control department, together with law enforcement agencies and other state bodies, visited the site and confirmed the discovery of hazardous waste.
Community activist Almagul Iksanova stated that such materials could pose a potential threat of spreading infections. According to her, representatives of the prosecutor's office were called to the scene.
WHAT MEASURES WERE TAKEN BY SPECIALISTS
Guldana Kereeva, Deputy Head of the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the WKR, reported that specialists, together with the Department of Ecology, took soil samples for microbiological and sanitary-chemical analysis. Preliminary results are expected within three to seven days.
The site where the waste was found was treated with chlorine-containing preparations. The confiscated materials were sealed and placed into storage; they will be disposed of once the necessary procedures are completed.
HOW MUCH WASTE WAS FOUND
According to preliminary data, the weight of the discovered medical waste was 144 kg. Among the items were test tubes containing biomaterials and other medical products.
According to Guldana Kereeva, the discovery site is located approximately 450 metres from a body of water. Specialists also intend to test the water composition.
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTABLISHED
The Baiterek district akimat reported that at around 23:30 on 4 June, an illegal unloading of medical waste from a GAZelle vehicle was recorded at the municipal solid waste landfill. The individual carrying out the unloading was detained by law enforcement agencies.
Staff from the prosecutor's office and the sanitary and epidemiological service were at the scene and recorded the violations. An administrative protocol was drawn up against the offender, and the investigation is ongoing.
WHAT PENALTIES ARE STIPULATED
According to Guldana Kereeva, organisations involved in the collection, transport, and processing of medical waste are obliged to destroy it in special muffle furnaces. Burying such materials in municipal solid waste landfills is prohibited.
A representative of the agency noted that the situation shows signs of a violation of Article 425 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Violation of sanitary and hygienic requirements"). A final legal assessment will be made based on the results of the investigation.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
Cases of improper handling of medical waste in Kazakhstan have been recorded previously.
Earlier in Ust-Kamenogorsk, used personal protective equipment and medical documents containing personal data were discovered at a container site. A branch of the National Centre of Expertise for the East Kazakhstan Region (EKR) reported that the waste was found among household rubbish after a community clean-up. Following an internal investigation, disciplinary sanctions were applied to employees, and one specialist was dismissed.
Another case was identified in the Almaty region, where a dump of medical drugs mixed with ordinary waste was found on the grounds of the Shelek District Hospital. Police have launched a pre-trial investigation into the violation of rules for handling medical waste, and specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological service have joined the inspection.