KATHMANDU: It is a glaring fact that lack of proper waste management has made our cities and urban and rural areas polluted and stinking.
The problem of waste management has been growing day in day out in Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the country. Heaps of garbage have been piling up at major junctions of the streets as a result of the failure to manage the wastes.However, some initiatives are being taken up to manage garbage after the local elections were held a year ago. Kathmandu Valley’s Kirtipur Municipality has taken a step towards that end.
Kirtipur Municipality provided a 10 day-training to 26 women of 10 Wards for utilizing the wastes to produce useful materials. After the training, women started collecting the garbage. The women are now busy segregating wastes as bio-degradable and non-biodegradable to produce attractive goods under the motto of ‘Turning wastes into money’.
“Earlier, we had problems in disposing the wastes but now we have started producing different materials,” said Basanti KC of Ward No 6.
Similarly, Usha Thapa Magar of Ward No 6, keeps newspapers, packets of milk, edible oil, and plastic bags safe instead of throwing them away. “We use these wastes to produce decorating goods,” she said. “I never imagined making such beautiful goods from the wastes. These days I make stuff during spare time after household works.”
Likewise, Sanu Maiya Awale of Ward No 1, spends her free time in producing goods from wastes. “We are making various things in order to give message that wastes can be reused and also to minimize the garbage,” she said.
Sushila Chitrakar of Ward No 1, said that she has been producing goods from wastes for about a year. She produces water drinking pots (karuwa), ear rings, key ring and fruit basket from wastes such as plastics, bottles, papers and other trashed goods.
But she is disappointed due to lack of market to sell the goods produced from wastes. “I make these goods after someone asks for,” she said. “If we get chance to sell such goods in the market, we will earn money and will also make a huge contribution in keeping our environment clean.”
Harsha Maharjan, chairman of Ward No 1, said the plastic minimization campaign was launched in the municipality from February. “The municipality has launched awareness programs about waste management,” he said. “We charge a fine of Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 if someone throws the wastes recklessly.”
Kirtipur Municipality has signed an agreement with four private companies for waste management. These companies collect Rs 150 monthly from each household. The municipality has installed 20 CCTV Cameras to keep tabs on the littering.
Meanwhile, the municipality organized ‘Clean Kirtipur Promotion Fair 2018’ on September 7 and 8.
