Municipal waste management project to create 1500 jobs

Kathmandu, July 26

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and five select municipalities across the country have launched a joint initiative to improve the municipal waste management system.

The venture will create 1,500 green jobs for the most vulnerable groups, and especially women from the selected municipalities, UNDP said in a statement on Monday.

The Promoting Green Recovery Project, co-funded by UNDP and the municipalities, will initially be implemented in Waling Municipality of Gandaki Province; Birendranagar Municipality of Karnali Province; Bheemdatt Municipality of Sudurpaschim Province; and Tilottama Municipality of Lumbini Province.

This initiative will create new jobs in the collection, segregation and management of urban waste; and in the production of compost and biogas, and commercial organic farming. 

“In the first year of its implementation, about 200 people, 50 per cent women, mostly those working as informal waste workers, will be provided with skills training and jobs in collection, segregation and management of urban waste; and 1,300 people (70 per cent women) in the production of compost and biogas, and commercial organic farming,” read the statement.  

According to UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Bernardo Cocco, proper waste management is a fundamental lever to achieve the SDGs at the municipal level.

“There are tremendous opportunities to build local capacities and to scale what works.  UNDP looks forward to working closely with the selected five partner municipalities and create sustainable models that can be applied elsewhere in Nepal," he said. 

In addition to creating employment, the initiative will promote waste segregation at the household, commercial and institutional level, and support the construction of 5000 household level composting system.

It will also work to improve waste collection system and establish waste processing centres, said the UNDP.

Likewise, UNDP will join forces with Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City in Province 2 to promote proper waste management system.

As part of the project, UNDP will also support the five municipalities to develop and implement a post-COVID-19 green recovery plan in collaboration with local organizations, community groups and private sector actors to foster a sustainable and locally-owned waste management system.

“This project will demonstrate how waste management can both support green recovery and at the same time provide economic opportunities for the needy people,” said Mayor of Waling Municipality, Dilip Pratap Khand.

Mayor of Bheemdatt Municipality, Surendra Bista, said the sustainable waste management project was the need of the hour and its unique partnership model would help attract and engage the local communities in its implementation with strong local ownership. Mayor of Birendranagar Municipality, Dev Kumar Subedi, stated that this partnership would further strengthen the municipalities’ capacity to manage waste.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 July 2021.