March 17, 2010
 Japanese Assistance for Community Based Waste Management
in Kathmandu Valley
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The Embassy of Japan has decided to extend a grant of eighty-four thousand, six hundred and eighty eight US dollars (US$ 84,688), equivalent to approximately six million, one hundred and fifty-one thousand, seven hundred and thirty six Nepalese Rupees (Nrs 6,151,736), to the Nepal Pollution Control and Environment Management Center for the implementation of the Project for Community Based Waste Management in Kathmandu Valley under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme of the Government of Japan in Japan's Fiscal Year 2009.
A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr. Tikaram Dahal, Executive Director of the Nepal Pollution Control and Environment Management Center (NEPCEMAC).
The grant is to be utilized for the procurement of 20 sets of compost plants, one tipper truck for waste collection, one tempo for collection of plastic for separation, one set of machines for recycle papers, and the introduction of various awareness programs. It will directly benefit local people in Ichangnarayan and Sitapaila V.D.C., where they have no service for solid waste collection even in spite of 5-fold increase in the population over the past 5 years due to rapid urbanization in this area.
NEPCEMAC, which have managed of solid waste for 14,000 households in Kathmandu and Lalitpur since 1997, usually collects 50 tons of solid waste per day in the area, out of which recyclable waste is separated from other waste, reducing 30 tons of organic waste to six tons of compost daily, which is finally utilized for nurseries, and plants trees along the Ring Road aiming at a green city.
Upon the completion of the project, NEPCEMAC is expected to collect about 4 tons of solid waste per day from 1,000 households in the project area, process it to compost, recycle paper, and to provide workshops and awareness campaigns to encourage community people to learn more about the waste management issue, and to promote environmental education in 24 schools. In addition, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC) ,in association with NEPCEMAC, will start to operate the tempo for collection of plastic for separation. This plastic collection is unprecedented and a remarkable challenge in Nepal, and it will contribute not only to reduce the quantity of garbage itself, but also to enable the saved budget surplus to go for another welfare services.
During the signing ceremony, His Excellency Mr. MIZUNO pointed out that in spite of Nepal's huge potentiality in tourism development, there are lots of negative incentives such as frequent Bhandas, and lack of social infrastructure. The poor management of solid waste is also one of the negative factors. Kathmandu Valley has to be kept more clean and more beautiful by cleaning away heaps of garbage in the street and improving the hygiene conditions, in order to attract more tourists.
He expressed his hope that residents of Kathmandu Valley should be more aware of the importance of eco-friendly waste-disposal, and the poor-mannered practices should be altered into more disciplined behaviors. He also expressed his wish that this project makes a remarkable success with the cooperation between NEPCEMAC, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City and the community, and turns out to be a good example of community self-help efforts. Finally, he expressed his firm belief that the project will make a significant contribution in further strengthening the relationship between the people of Japan and new Nepal.
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