Local units across country turning waste into wealth and wonder – The Kathmandu Post
Waste management is a serious issue in most of the city markets in the country. The national capital, Kathmandu, has been struggling to manage solid waste for a long time. However, some local units outside Bagmati Province have not only managed waste efficiently but also been generating income from solid waste.
Dhankuta Municipality has justified that solid waste can be managed systematically and the garbage disposal sites can turn into attractive destinations.
One prime example of how efficiently waste can be utilised is Salleri forest near Dhankuta bazaar. A landfill site of Dhankuta Municipality, Salleri forest resembles a public garden more than a garbage disposal centre. Colourful birds, bees and butterflies can be seen in the beautiful flower garden.
The well-managed landfill site in Dhankuta-6 has 45 different species of flowers with various species of plants thriving in the surrounding area, according to the environment branch of Dhankuta Municipality.
Chief of the environment branch of the municipality Upendra Khanal says that the waste generated by the municipality is being managed with the help of the private sector. According to him, around 13.5 tonnes of garbage collected daily is turned into compost manure by mixing the decayed garbage with soil, which is later used to fertilise the flower garden.
Salleri forest is located near Dhankuta Bazaar, Kachide and Atmara among other dense settlements.
According to Khanal, the flower garden is spread across 0.18 acres out of the 3.77 acre landfill site.
“We plan to expand the garden to another 0.25 acres,” he said. “This initiative has also generated employment for the locals with 39 people currently employed under the project. The private sector employs 14 people and the municipality employs 25 people.”
Kaushal Thapa, coordinator of the Garbage Management Centre, said that garbage segregation begins at the household level. About 60 percent of the items collected as garbage, including iron, glasses, plastics, electrical goods, carton boxes and papers, are sold separately.
“Awareness training was given to 250 people in the urban areas to lead the management of degradable and non-degradable garbage. Most residents are involved in kitchen gardening and terrace gardening so most of them use compost manure from rotting vegetables,” said Thapa.
According to the municipality, the Department of Mines and Geology conducted a feasibility study in 2001. Following the feasibility study and preliminary environmental test of the landfill site, waste management work started in 2008.
Suryodaya Municipality of Ilam, Buddhashanti Municipality of Jhapa, Mahakali Municipality of Darchula and Swargadwari of Pyuthan have also started waste management initiatives along similar lines. Dhankuta was declared a plastic-free city 10 years ago and the government awarded a cash prize of Rs1 million to Dhankuta for being the best clean city.
Tilottama Municipality in Rupandehi district also launched …….