Aditi Ramola
Technical Director, ISWA
The three-year project “Preventing plastic in Nepal’s rivers by strengthening the informal sector”, launched in June 2022, has officially concluded with promising results. Kicked off with a high-profile workshop attended by over 100 participants and supported by key stakeholders, including the Nepali Minister of Environment and the Norwegian Ambassador, the project aimed to reduce river plastic pollution in the Kathmandu Valley by empowering informal waste workers – especially women.
Led by GRID-Arendal and supported by partners including the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Doko Recyclers, ISWA, and CREASION, the initiative focused on mapping plastic hotspots, identifying systemic barriers faced by waste workers, and piloting locally adapted recycling solutions. The project was funded by the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund (Handelens Miljøfond).
As part of the project’s capacity-building efforts, ISWA — represented by Dr. Anne Scheinberg and Aditi Ramola — organized an online training workshop for women waste pickers in December. The session created a space for the women to share their experiences, including the challenges of dealing with fluctuating material prices and the difficulties in achieving economies of scale when working independently. In response to these challenges, the workshop provided practical training on using weighing scales to better track material quantities before selling. Each participant received a weighing balance through the project, and many expressed appreciation for learning how to use it effectively to improve their income and bargaining power.
Among the project’s key achievements was the successful implementation of a plastic recycling hub in Dallu, along the Bishnumati River, operated by members of Nepal’s first waste workers’ organization, SASAJA. The facility provided dignified employment, social benefits, and tools for collecting and processing plastics, while also gathering valuable data to inform future interventions. The project highlighted the essential contributions of informal waste workers to Nepal’s waste management system and demonstrated how tailored support can enhance their impact. Looking ahead, the tested models and lessons from this pilot offer a strong foundation for scaling up inclusive, sustainable plastic waste solutions in Nepal and beyond.
