LocationsCity mayor’s bold move towards sustainability and zero waste
Pokhara's green ambition
December 7, 2024
The mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Mr Dhana Raj Acharya distributing waste segregation kits.
Photo: UNDP Nepal
Pokhara is famous for its stunning natural beauty but hidden beneath its picturesque scenery is a growing environmental issue—waste. With the city's expansion, the strain on its lakes, wetlands, and urban areas is increasing.
Open dumping of waste.
Photo: Green Roads Waste Management Private Limited
In response, Pokhara has set an ambitious goal: to reduce waste and create a more sustainable city by aiming for zero waste. Leading this bold initiative is Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya, whose vision for Pokhara’s future goes beyond waste reduction to include transforming the city into a green, resilient hub. His plan emphasizes recycling and upcycling waste to create value and generate green job opportunities.
A Coordinated Effort
On November 22, 2024, a public discussion, organized by the UN Development Program Nepal in association with AP1 Television, brought together key stakeholders to explore ways of tackling the waste crisis in Pokhara. Local leaders, environmental activists, entrepreneurs, and development partners shared their insights and committed to working together on sustainable solutions.
Watch a video on the sustainable management of waste in Pokhara
“We are committed to working together to tackle the growing waste problem in Pokhara,” Mayor Acharya stated at the event. “Collaboration is key to success—partnering with the community, the private sector, and organizations like UNDP to build a green, resilient future for our city.”
The mayor highlighted that Pokhara plans to begin waste segregation at its source—people's homes. The municipality is also planning to develop a new landfill site covering 96 ropanis to manage the city's increasing waste. According to a World Bank study, Pokhara generates 182 tons of waste daily, and the expanded landfill will help address future demands.
The new landfill site, which is designed to handle 250 tons of waste per day, is yet to be identified due to the limited availability of land in Pokhara. Once completed, segregated materials such as plastic and glass will be sent to private companies involved in recycling and upcycling. Only biodegradable waste will be directed to Pokhara Metropolitan City's waste-to-energy plant.
Additionally, Mayor Acharya mentioned that the PMC has been closely collaborating with UNDP’s Green Job Creation Through Recycling and Upcycling (GCRU) project in Pokhara, marking the beginning of a major initiative focused on sustainable waste management, recycling, upcycling, and the creation of green jobs.
Plastic pellets that can be recycled and remodeled into new products.
Photo: UNDP Nepal
The GCRU project’s Green Venture Zone (GVZ) is an innovation hub dedicated to turning waste into valuable resources through recycling and upcycling. It supports both established and emerging businesses, raising awareness of environmental, social, and economic issues while promoting sustainable practices for a circular economy.
Visitors can engage in activities that encourage eco-friendly lifestyles and solutions to waste problems. UNDP Nepal’s GCRU Pokhara project is collaborating with Pokhara Metropolitan City to advance recycling, upcycling, and business promotion of recycled products, including the construction of exhibition halls.
The role of the private sector
The private sector is already playing a significant role in the fight against waste. Green Road Waste Management, a Pokhara-based company, is leading the way by using recycled plastic in road construction. With a grant from UNDP, the company has successfully built a road section using a mix of plastic and other materials, and has also utilized recycled plastic to create public toilets.
Toilet made of plastic mixed bricks in Pokhara.
Photo: UNDP Nepal
“Our goal is to reduce plastic waste while simultaneously creating local job opportunities,” said Bimal Bastola, executive director of Green Roads. “We’ve demonstrated that recycled plastic can be used in road construction, and we plan to replicate this model in other areas of Pokhara.”
Himalayan Life Plastics, the only recycling plant in Nepal that processes PET plastic bottles, is also making significant progress. The plant recycles 40 million plastic bottles each year, many of which are sourced from Pokhara. This initiative is part of a larger effort to address plastic pollution and promote a circular economy.
The collaboration between the public and private sectors is a crucial part of Pokhara’s green transformation. Mayor Acharya has committed to expanding these efforts, focusing on raising awareness about recycling and waste management, while also creating new business opportunities in the green sector.
Recycling and upcycling for a green future
Himalayan Life Plastics, the only recycling plant in Nepal that processes PET plastic bottles. Photo: UNDP
Photo: UNDP Nepal
The city is already making significant progress. Waste collection has become more efficient, with over 200 sweepers working early each morning to clear the streets. In a recent partnership with the Nepal Army, the municipality successfully removed 10 tons of waste from Mount Annapurna. Additionally, an ambitious plan to plant 256,000 saplings is underway, aiming to enhance greenery and offset the impacts of pollution.
However, the road ahead is not without its challenges. Despite these efforts, some residents continue to dispose of waste improperly, throwing it into streams or open spaces before sweepers have a chance to collect it. This behavior remains a major obstacle to achieving the city’s zero-waste goal.
“When we conducted a clean-up campaign in the sewage system, we uncovered 191 televisions, over 300 ghee tanks, and numerous plastic items,” Mayor Acharya explained. “This indicates that some people are still disposing of waste before the sweepers arrive, which is a behavioral issue that needs to be addressed.” Recognizing that waste segregation is a key step toward recycling and upcycling, UNDP’s GCRU project, in collaboration with Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC), is leading a series of awareness campaigns across all 33 wards. These events aim to raise awareness at the household level and promote behavior change among residents.
Waste segregation kits with instructions on stickers
Turning waste into wealth
Despite these challenges, Pokhara is already turning trash into treasure. The municipality collects Rs 20,000,000 annually from companies involved in garbage collection and waste management. Additionally, the city is exploring ways to support businesses that focus on recycling plastics and glass, aiming to further promote waste-based industries.
The collaborative efforts between the municipality and private companies is praiseworthy, but we need to expand these initiatives into a broader circular economy. We must move away from the traditional linear economy of 'take, make, dispose' and adopt a circular model where waste is seen as a resource.- Vijaya Singh, Policy Advisor, UNDP Nepal
At the same time, businesses like Himalayan Life Plastics are continuing to innovate by transforming plastic waste into valuable products. Prakash Bharati, the company’s general manager, highlighted the need for stronger policies to support recycling efforts and ensure long-term sustainability in waste management.
A panel discussion organized by UNDP and AP1 TV on Innovative waste solutions
UNDP Nepal
A collective vision
At the event, participants from various backgrounds shared their ideas on addressing the city's waste issues. Many recommended that the municipality partner with local universities to conduct research on waste management solutions. Others suggested providing free biodegradable bags in hospital areas and exploring alternative materials for vegetable farming tunnels, which currently depend largely on plastic.
As the city moves forward, it’s clear that Pokhara’s journey toward zero waste will be a collaborative effort—a united vision for a more sustainable and resilient future. With the backing of local residents, businesses, and development partners, this bold goal is within reach. Pokhara’s dedication to transforming waste into valuable resources could soon serve as a model for other cities across Nepal's provinces.
A drone shot of Fewa lake, Pokhara
UNDP Nepal
Related
content
content
