Eco-Activist Shows Steppe Near Aktau Turned Into a Dump

Eco-activist and blogger Azamat Sarsenbayev showed what he described as a steppe turned into a dump near Aktau. The situation was later commented on by the Mangystau region’s Department of Natural Resources, Orda.kz reports.

The footage shows a lone camel and a large area covered in waste. Users in the comments expressed outrage and pointed to the scale of the pollution.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of the Mangystau region said the footage showed the impact of the solid household waste landfill in the village of Bayandy in the Munaily district. The department said the site was operating normally and that waste was being disposed of in line with established standards.

The presence of light waste fractions in the adjacent area is in some cases possible and is caused by technological and natural factors. On April 18, 2026, scheduled sanitary cleaning was carried out on the territory of the landfill and adjacent areas. As a result, the territory was brought into proper condition.
On April 20, a fire broke out near the landfill. During the response, and also because of stronger winds, light waste fractions were again spread beyond the main storage area. This caused the current situation.the department said.

The department added that the situation was temporary and did not indicate a lack of control. According to officials, the facility organized cleanup work, using equipment and specialized services. The cleanup was expected to be completed as soon as possible.

Original author: Daria Malkova

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