On August 5, a new law will come into force in Uzbekistan introducing financial penalties for violations of air quality standards and waste management regulations.

On May 4, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a document aimed at strengthening the responsibility of businesses for environmental violations, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

Under the new legislation, financial penalties for exceeding pollutant emission limits will be determined based on environmental impact categories:

- Category IV: compensation payment multiplied by two;
- Category III: compensation payment multiplied by four;
- Category II: compensation payment multiplied by six;
- Category I: compensation payment multiplied by ten.

In addition, a penalty equal to three times the compensation payment will be applied for the emission of dust and sand particles from construction sites exceeding 500 square meters, including adjacent areas.

The law also introduces fines for violations of environmental requirements in waste management. Illegal waste disposal will result in a penalty of five times the compensation payment.

Separate provisions regulate the open burning of fuel and other materials, including waste, in unauthorized areas. The use of tires, rubber, bitumen, fuel oil, and other polluting substances as fuel in greenhouses and industrial facilities is also prohibited. In such cases, legal entities will be required to pay a fine equal to five times the compensation payment.

Moreover, administrative liability has been strengthened for burning polluting fuels and materials in unauthorized areas, with corresponding amendments made to Article 88 of the Administrative Liability Code.

For a first-time violation, individuals will be fined between 15 and 25 basic calculation units (approximately 6.18-10.3 million soums, or $480-$800), while officials will face fines between 25 and 50 units (about 10.3-20.6 million soums, or $800-$1,600).

For repeated violations, fines will increase to 25-50 basic calculation units for individuals (approximately $800-$1,600), and up to 75 units for officials (about 30.9 million soums, or roughly $2,400).