KMC puts off classification of solid waste at source plan

KATHMANDU, Dec 7: The work of classification of garbage at source, a campaign that was initiated by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) around five months ago has been put off for the time being.

In a bid to make solid waste management further effective, the KMC had asked everyone to classify and separate waste at source in all 32 wards of the metropolis since mid-July this year as part of its waste management plan.

Though the task was on in the first couple of weeks as per the plan, it did not get continuity later.

Member of KMC Mayor Balendra Shah Secretariat, Sunil Lamsal said the task has not been continued for the lack of proper space.

As KMC lacks open space, it has demanded the federal government to provide at least 200 ropanis of land for the purpose.

"The government has assured KMC to provide land. The classification of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes would resume once KMC gets land for its management. We are hopeful that this would gain momentum once the new government is formed," Lamsal shared.

"KMC has no legal authority to occupy land beyond its boundary. So, we urged the central government for the same. The KMC has made necessary preparations to use biodegradable waste to manufacture fertilizers after space for waste management is identified," he further said.

Every day around 1,200 tons of waste from the capital city is being managed presently in Banchare Danda. The KMC shares the highest quantity of 500 metric tons of waste. Solid wastes produced in 19 local government units of the Kathmandu Valley are managed in Banchare Danda.