Managing waste sustainably

Federal and provincial governments should collaborate with local levels to address the problem.

With the rise in living standards, the waste problem in Kathmandu has become ever more complex. Depending on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions, cities can have different varieties of waste. However, they can broadly be classified into four categories: Municipal solid waste, sewage waste, waste from production processes and commercial waste, and construction and demolition waste (C&D waste). To date, C&D waste is barely a problem for municipal governments in Nepal because it can be easily dumped nearby or has a certain value that can be traded for economic gain. Sewage waste is not treated and managed properly and is directly sent into rivers in Kathmandu, which has profound environmental effects and requires a huge investment to tackle it.