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A malodorous factory operating in the Almaty region is set to relocate to the city's industrial zone, marking a significant victory for local residents who have endured years of complaints about foul smells.

The decision comes after persistent public outcry and aims to resolve the environmental nuisance that has plagued communities for years. The relocated facility will focus on producing paper, cardboard, and corrugated packaging.

New Beginnings and Old Problems

The company, KZ Recycling, has entered into an agreement with the city, and relocation efforts are underway. The move is projected to be completed by the end of 2027. Once operational in its new location, the company aims to produce up to 115,000 tons of paper and cardboard products annually, generating an estimated 36.2 billion tenge in revenue.

The current factory site, equipped with over 1,500 pieces of machinery and nearly 4,000 main equipment units, is constrained by its 15.9-hectare area. This limitation prevents the installation of new production lines, expanded warehousing, modern purification facilities, and automated logistics systems necessary for future growth and compliance.

Residents' Long-Standing Grievances

Residents in Almaty's Nauryzbai district have repeatedly voiced their distress over the persistent unpleasant odors emanating from the factory. Although the factory was administratively located in the Karasai district of the Almaty region, its emissions significantly impacted the quality of life in nearby settlements. These odor issues were further exacerbated by sewage discharge from the village of Abai.

Construction Near Residential Areas

Residents of the "Asyl Arman" and Alma City housing complexes were particularly vocal in their protests. Concerns were raised that the Alma City residential complex was constructed by Qazaq Stroy directly adjacent to the factory, within its sanitary protection zone, a move described as a serious violation of regulations.

Official Promises and Unfulfilled Solutions

Despite promises from authorities to address the situation, the problem persisted. This led to organized meetings by community activists to highlight their ongoing issues. The meetings involved representatives from the Nauryzbai district administration, the Karasai district administration of the Almaty region, the city's Entrepreneurship Department, KZ Recycling, the Housing and Utilities Alliance, and civic activists.

Environmental Violations

According to Kuat Uskenbayev, head of the legal issues and communal services committee at the Housing and Utilities Alliance, residents have suffered from the foul odors since 2015. Laboratory analyses revealed that hydrogen sulfide levels in the factory's settling ponds, which served approximately 300 homes in Abai village, were 22 times the norm, with other elements exceeding limits by a thousandfold. These findings indicated significant breaches of environmental standards. The factory has faced multiple fines, with nearly 50 million tenge levied in 2024 alone, yet the core problem remained unresolved.

Confusion in Utility Services

Residents also noted that the village of Abai's inhabitants would continue to use the factory's settling ponds due to a lack of alternatives. While a representative from the Raimbek rural district stated efforts were being made to connect these 300 subscribers to the "Edelweiss" LLP network serving the "Asyl Arman" housing complex, overall confusion within the utility sector was evident.

Permitting of Residential Complexes

The circumstances surrounding the Alma City residential complex were also scrutinized. It remained unclear how the developer obtained permission to build within the factory's sanitary protection zone. Officials from state bodies were unable to provide clear answers as to why this construction was not halted and why no one was held accountable. A representative from the Entrepreneurship Department stated they could not provide a comprehensive answer within their jurisdiction, as the department does not issue permits for residential complexes.

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