Solid Waste Management Program

Turning household waste into energy and additional income
Waste Management
Lalitpur
Nepal

The enterprise seeks to enhance environmental conservation while generating income from recycled household waste, mainly in Kathmandu Valley. Women are provided with business and waste management training and access to micro-credit loans, and are encouraged to form conservation groups across the country.

Operated solely by women, the enterprise collects household waste and generates income by recycling it using efficient techniques. Organic waste is separated from the rest and turned into compost and bio-gas,often locally at the sites where the waste is generated. Paper is remolded into craft products. The enterprise organises public events on waste management and the environment and supports the establishment of "eco-clubs" in schools. It also provides consultancy and training related to waste management.

 

 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
The initiative enhances environmental conservation while generating income from recycled household waste. Women are provided with business and waste management training and access to micro-credit loans.
  • Increasing the number of women's groups from 30 to 60, and the number of "eco-clubs" in schools from 51 to 100.
  • Training thousands of women on environmental issues and waste management.
  • Increasing the efficiency of existing biogas models to control more GHG emissions and recycled organic waste.
  • Encouraging more households to engage in bin composting: the goal is to raise the number of such households from 400 to 1,000.
  • Increasing profits to create employment for local women, secure a stable income for local waste collectors and provide more training in developing new products.

 

Partners

The “Solid Waste Management and Community Mobilization Program” is a waste collection and recycling enterprise of over 1,000 households and businesses and is run by a women’s environment committee and supported by a local municipality. Under the initiative, landfill waste is reduced via recycling and biogas plants are fueled by organic waste on which training is provided. A savings and credit cooperative has also been established to mobilise loans to 150 female members.

Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) a local NGO, provides financial and technical support for the initiative.

Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City provides financial and technical input and represents the initiative’s interests at a government level. 

UNDP-GEF SGP Nepal provides working capital for increasing waste collection campaigns, community activities and biogas production.

Asia Foundation Nepal provides funds and facilities for training in addition to legal advice.

Local communities support the initiative through the formation of “eco-clubs” which promote environmental awareness and active involvement in the community.