The Rotaract Club of Central Rupandehi organized a Circular Economy Dialogue on plastic reduction, reuse and recycling at Shanti Namuna Secondary School, drawing more than 100 participants under the GreenShift Nepal initiative supported by the European Union.
Held from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, the event brought together government officials, industry representatives, waste management experts and youth in a stakeholder consultation aimed at exploring circular economy approaches to plastic management. Of the more than 100 attendees, 95 were formally registered, including students, teachers, rotaractors and community members.
RTR Rajendra Malla, President Elect of the club, served as program host, while RTR Nishana Pokharel, President Nominee, moderated the discussion. Principal Lokhnath Kandel of Shanti Namuna Secondary School attended as chief guest, and RTR Bijay Adhikari, immediate past president, chaired the proceedings. Eco Club adviser Sarda Pandey delivered the welcome speech. Guests of honour included RTR Dr. Aabishkar Parajuli, IPDRR RTR Bikram Chhetri and Tilottama Municipality fellow Sijan Sharma.
Three panelists took part in the discussion: waste management expert Khem Gautam, Mangalam Industries vice president Pradeep Kumar Sukla, and Tilottama Municipality official Gorakh Khanal, who also served as mediator. The panel addressed circular economy principles, plastic reduction strategies, waste management systems, manufacturer responsibilities, recycling practices and government regulations. Participants identified microplastic management and shifting consumer behavior as key challenges, while proposed solutions included raising awareness among children, enforcing stricter municipal regulations and requiring factories to use recycled materials.
Following the panel, remarks were delivered by RTR Dr. Aabishkar Parajuli, IPDRR RTR Bikram Chhetri and Principal Kandel, reinforcing commitments to plastic management, before RTR Adhikari closed the session with a summary of key insights.
Organizers said the dialogue was promoted through the social media pages of the Rotaract Club, individual rotaractors and the school itself. They added that students and teachers who attended have since taken on the role of informal environmental ambassadors, sharing what they learned with classmates and parents and extending the program's reach into the wider community.
