BEST PRACTICES ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT OF NEPALESE CITIES
Suiro Abhiyan at HetaudaURBAN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Municipality
Introduction
Suiro Abhiyan is a movement of Hetauda municipality
concerned with the collection from HHs and recycling
of plastic bags. It has become an exemplary practice in
which members of each Tole Lane organisation
encourage HHs to segregate plastics from other wastes
and hook them onto a Suiro hook. This is the first
municipality to introduce this kind of programme in
Nepal.
Rationale for selection
This case was selected because it provides information
about a TLO initiative for at-source segregation of
plastic waste.
of plastic from HH wastes. It should be pointed out
that 20.3 per cent of women in the municipality are
members of such TLOs (Suiro Abhiyan, 2008 data). They
are involved in activities that help them to enhance their
own skills with regard to improving the environment.
Women's groups have also benefited from a saving and
credit programme as well as from income derived from
the sale of plastic waste for recycling.
Significant environmental improvement has been
achieved by recovering plastics and the adoption of
composting. Similarly, improved waste management
has resulted in better drainage and improved soil
conditions. As residents become more aware of
environmental problems caused by plastics and the
benefits of recycling, this movement is making real
progress towards reaching its goal.
Case description
The situation in Hetauda has improved considerably.
Previously it was a common sight to see piles of garbage
in public places within the municipality. Local residents
were careless about their health and the environmental
hazards caused including drain blockage caused by
plastic waste. Measures to reduce this problem were
introduced by TLOs and these initiatives grew into Suiro
Abhiyan in Hetauda. A major objective of this movement
in Hetauda municipality is to ensure effective recovery
Waste generation and composition
According to the data provided by the municipality and
a field survey conducted in May 2008, the average HH
waste generation rate in this municipality is 0.25kg/
person/day ( Hetauda municipality 2008), which is
same as the national average for urban areas and less
than Kathmandu metropolitan city (0.39 kg/capita/day
- SWRMC,2008 data). The daily total generation in this
municipality is 14 tons/day (Hetauda municipality,
2008 data).
Name of the Programme: Suiro Abhiyan at Hetauda
Location: All 11 wards of Hetauda municipality (initially only Wards 3 & 6)
Duration of the Project: 2002 onwards
Beneficiaries: Urban residents
Donors and Partners: TLOs, NGOs, municipality, UDLE-GTZ
Vision of the programme Hooking of plastic waste on a Suiro (at-source segregation of plastic in households)
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