Turning Waste into Wealth: Pokhara Learns from Rapti Model

Pokhara – With the vision that “waste is not to be dumped but managed and turned into income,” Pokhara Metropolitan City has observed the sanitation and resource center in Rapti Rural Municipality, Dang.

The visit was organized under the Green Job Creation Through Recycling and Upcycling Pokhara (GCRUP) project, run with support from KOICA and UNDP, to promote sustainable waste management and recycling.

Rapti has introduced a new model for managing low-value plastics (LVP) such as multilayer packaging, plastic bags, and thin films. Collected waste is reused to produce compost, concrete blocks, tiles, and other local products—reducing pollution, boosting local production, and creating jobs.

According to Eco Family Pvt. Ltd. supervisor Lal Bahadur Chaudhary, the center currently produces compost, tiles, and blocks using two machines, with daily demand exceeding 500 blocks and tiles. The “Zero Wastage” campaign, once difficult to introduce, is now successful.

Ward Chairperson and municipal spokesperson Pehlawan Chaudhary said waste management has also been tied to women’s empowerment, with households, shops, and hotels paying service fees. A share of these collections supports local committees.

Officials noted that the low-cost blocks and tiles face expansion challenges due to lack of reliable electricity lines and machinery, though market demand is high.

Pokhara’s officials believe adopting Rapti’s model will reduce municipal expenses by using recycled materials for roads, parks, and public structures, while also spreading public awareness.

The initiative has not only improved sanitation but also provided insurance, healthcare, and jobs for local workers—turning “waste into wealth” in practice.