How politics and money-mindedness are making Kathmandu’s waste management problem dirtier

On June 17, the Clean Environment Protection Nepal Pvt Ltd, a waste management company, handed over Najina (name changed), a Baber Mahal native, a bill of Rs 300. As the company had not picked up waste a single time throughout May, she refused to pay. After that, a company representative hung the bill on her door.

“If we don’t pay as per their demand, they will stop picking up the garbage. We don’t have an option to not pay. Even if we’re not satisfied, we still have to pay,” says Najina.