Divide and conquer

Segregating the Valley’s waste makes perfect sense. But are we prepared to do the needful?

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City is now undertaking another venture: separate disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage in its landfill site in Banchare Danda, Nuwakot. This is aimed at cutting the landfill overflow (the city’s waste makes up 60 percent of the 1,200 tonnes collected in the Kathmandu Valley in a single day) and also to produce compost from biodegradable waste. Experts estimate that 60 percent of the organic waste from the Valley can be converted into compost, with the remaining non-degradable waste being recyclable.