By selling recyclable waste, Byas Municipality in Tanahun district has earned more than Rs 1.4 million in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.
The municipality earned Rs 1,450,611 from the sale of various recyclable items collected as waste from Shrawan to Magh in the current fiscal year.
Chief Administrative Officer Sukdev Lamsal said that the income was generated from the sale of waste materials including recyclable and glass items.
Facing long-standing challenges in waste management, the municipality has begun collecting waste after segregating it at the household level. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste are collected separately, and recyclable waste is sold to generate revenue, Lamsal said.
“When all types of waste are collected together, it creates problems. Therefore, biodegradable waste is collected in one vehicle and non-biodegradable waste in another,” he added.
Lamsal noted that the income generated from selling waste has helped strengthen the municipality’s internal revenue sources.
Mayor Baikuntha Neupane said that waste is being segregated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories from the point of collection, and within non-biodegradable waste, materials such as glass, plastic, and paper are further separated and compressed using machines before being sold to generate income.
The municipality has conducted awareness and training programs on waste segregation in every neighborhood, ward, and school within the municipality. At the municipal office premises, non-biodegradable waste—such as paper, glass, and plastic—is separated and sold.
Stating that a permanent solution to waste management has not been achieved even after 32 years, Neupane said, “During my previous term as well, efforts were made, but problems persisted. The municipality is still working on land management.”
The municipality manages biodegradable waste at the cow conservation center in Dumsi, where biogas is produced from the waste. Byas Municipality collects waste daily from ward No. 2, 3, and 4 in the market area. About 11 tons of waste are collected daily from the market areas of the municipality.
