Diplomats from different countries, experts, Nepali government officials and tour operators have called for a policy to make the country plastic-free and make the Himalayas waste-free.
At a discussion held today, the participants underlined the need to formulate a waste management policy by incorporating the agenda of making the country a plastic-free zone and reaching status of zero-waste Himalayas, according to the Solid Waste Management Technical Support Centre.
As per the Solid Waste Management Act 2011 and Regulation 2013, the SWMTSC is preparing a waste management policy in order to manage waste by following the cycle of segregating, treating, recycling, reusing and reducing waste products.
The participants, including Russian Envoy to Nepal, Acting French Ambassador to Nepal, US experts, officials of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council and trekking organisations took part in the discussion held to solicit suggestions and incorporate them into the policy.
“They emphasised the need to ban plastic bags and prepare a proper waste management plan,” said Dr Sumitra Amatya, SWMTSC’s executive director.
According to the SWMTSC, about 170 metric tonnes of waste is generated annually in the Mt Everest region. Of it, 21 per cent is plastic content, 22 per cent paper and cardboards, 13 per cent metal and glass, four per cent textiles, and remaining section includes foodstuffs, human waste and bodies.
Around 35,000 tourists, including expedition teams, visit the Everest region every year. Plastic bags and bottles are rampantly used in the region. “The waste produced by visitors is yet to be managed properly,” said Amatya. “On the other hand, locals of the region are aggravating the waste management problem,” she added.
Poor waste management and haphazard use of plastic bags in cities and rural areas of the country have posed a serious threat to the environment and public health. “Waste management situation in Himalayan ranges in the country is similar to urban and rural parts,” Amatya said.
She said her office has forwarded a draft of the waste policy to the Ministries of Science, Technology and Environment, and Federal Affairs and Local Development. “After incorporating feedback from different stakeholders, we will forward the final draft to the Council of Ministers for approval,” she added.
