NEPAL'S OWN SELF- SUSTAINABLE RECYCLING ENTERPRISE

ANNUALLY, 15000 TONS OF WASTE PET BOTTLES ARE PRODUCED IN NEPAL OUT OF WHICH ONLY 12000 TONS OF WASTE PET BOTTLES ARE RECOLLECTED AND 10000 TONS OF THEM ARE EXPORTED ILLEGALLY.

Plastic pollution is one of the leading sources of environmental pollution, which causes a great challenge in maintaining a more sustainable environment. Amidst the challenges, even the smallest efforts to refrain plastic from entering the landfill can be a huge help for the environment and the community. Although there are a lot of challenges in plastic issues the environmental impact of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles and its phenomenal capacity-to-weight makes it the best quality recyclable plastics with a low carbon footprint.​

Recycler Saathi, initiated in 2019 and aligns with the vision of The Coca-Cola Foundation’s ‘World Without Waste’ and aims to create a self-sustainable waste PET bottle recycling mechanism in Nepal. The broader goal of the project has been to formalize the waste management sector of Nepal and create a reliable and sustainable recycling mechanism in Nepal. 

In alignment with Recycler Saathi’s goals to establish a proper recycling system within Nepal and enhance the waste management sector, it has focused on recollection and recycling of waste PET bottles, capacity development, and livelihood improvement of waste workers followed by prioritization of attitude shift among households and institutions towards recycling.

To know more, visit: www.recyclersaathi.org

  • WHAT LED TO THE START OF RECYCLER SAATHI?

    Recycler Saathi is a waste PET recollection and recycling project initiated by CREASION with the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation and Bottlers Nepal Terai Limited. The project has been implemented across various districts of Nepal to streamline the collection of waste PET bottles divert their haphazard disposal from the landfill. The project aims to achieve this through the formalization of the waste management sector of Nepal which eventually also covers the upliftment of the socio-economic status of waste workers. Since its initiation in 2019, Recycler Saathi has already set a foundation for the attainment of increased recycling rates of waste PET bottles and has accelerated the project’s objectives as well as diversified interventions for the betterment of waste worker and mass awareness in youth and children.  

  • HOW IS RECYCLER SAATHI ADDRESSING THE WASTE PLASTIC PROBLEM IN NEPAL?

    When 1 ton of clean recycled PET is used instead of virgin PET, it results in a reduction of 2 tons of carbon emissions and conserves 48 million BTUs of energy. Since its establishment in 2019, Recycler Saathi has collected and recycled a total of 6,297 tons of PET bottles. This translates to a reduction of 12,594 tons of carbon emissions. This demonstrates Recycler Saathi's commitment as an environmental ally, significantly mitigating the carbon footprint associated withwaste PET bottles. 

  • WHAT IS THE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PROCESS OF THE WASTE PET BOTTLES?

    Recycler Saathi employs a dual-pronged approach for collecting waste PET bottles. The primary source of these bottles is direct collection from waste workers, while the secondary source involves obtaining them from various small Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) scattered across Nepal. 

    Once gathered, these waste PET bottles are transported to Recycler Saathi's own Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where they are meticulously compacted into bales for the recycling process. Subsequently, these baled PET bottles are forwarded to recycling facilities, where they are transformed into granules. These granules serve as the raw material for producing a range of items, including new bottles and various other products, contributing to the recycling and sustainable utilization of PET materials. This integrated process underscores Recycler Saathi's dedication to environmental preservation and waste reduction. 

  • ARE THERE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT RECYCLER SAATHI HAS VENTURED INTO?

    Recycler Saathi has a number of activities addressed to different range of stakeholders. For the waste workers, Recycler Saathi has been initiating Occupational Safety Trainings, Health Camps, Accidental Insurance distribution, Capacity building training and many others. Likewise, for youths, many awareness programs are tailored for capacitating them in terms of environmental conservation and plastic waste management. Also, with the help of Waste Smart increases, knowledge base of young students about recycling, encourage and influence their actions for the good of the environment 

  • HOW HAVE WASTE WORKERS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE PROJECT?

    We recognize waste workers as the primary agents of change for the environment. They are important players in the recycling industry and we acknowledge their hard work and contribution. Through Recycler Saathi, we provide them with health insurance, awareness, medical consultations as well as trainings to enhance their level of skills. Not just waste workers, workers but their families are also major beneficiaries of the programs. 

  • HOW DO THESE PROJECTS RUN?

    Most of our projects run in collaboration and partnership with different stakeholders such as the government, corporations, schools, colleges, and local communities. We love to connect with new institutions and build ideas for better activities and their impacts.

  • WHO ARE THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS OF RECYCLER SAATHI PROJECT?

    The major stakeholders of Recycler Saathi project are; Waste Workers, Waste Entrepreneurs, SMEs, Youth, Children, and local government. 

Impacts

00 +

TONS WASTE PET BOTTLES RECOLLECTED FOR RECYCLING

00

TONS CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCED

00 +

WASTE WORKERS GIVEN SOCIO-ECONOMIC SUPPORT

00 +

YOUTH ENGAGED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY

00 +

CHILDREN ACQUAINTED ABOUT WASTE SEGREGATION

Partners

The Coca Cola Foundation

Bottlers Nepal Terai Limited

OUR INTERVENTIONS

RECYCLER SAATHI

WASTE WORKERS LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT

WASTE WORKERS LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT

SOCIO- ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF OUR WASTE WORKERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IS OUR TOP PRIORITY

15+ +

INFORMAL WASTE WORKERS PROVIDED WITH SOCIO- ECONOMIC BENEFITS

114 +

WOMEN BENEFITTED THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY BUILDING TRAININGS.

THE CHALLENGE

The waste management sector of Nepal is still not in a good structure. The sector has been largely side-lined and the players involved in the field have not received the attention that they require in terms of enhancing their work as their sustaining their livelihoods. This has directly or indirectly taken a toll on the general scenario of the waste management sector and resulted in its slow progress.

THE INTERVENTION

Livelihood Enhancement Program has been introduced by Recycler Saathi to cater to the socio- economic needs of the waste workers as well as other stakeholders. It works in close collaboration with multiple stakeholders and ensures they attain a stable livelihood along with the skills required to enhance their work performance. Our Livelihood Enhancement Programs extends from waste collectors to our balers

The Approach

By screening the needs of waste collectors and balers, we carefully plan and customise various activities for them. As part of our intervention to ensure good health of our waste workers, we have organized health camps in the past years along with health awareness sessions. Further, to enhance the working efficiency of our balers, capacity building trainings for them have been organized frequently.

TESTIMONIALS

RECYCLER SAATHI

PET RECOVERY : EXPANSION AND COLLABORATION

PET RECOVERY : EXPANSION AND COLLABORATION

RECYCLING CAN ONLY REAP ITS BENEFIT WHEN THE LARGER PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS

1290 TONS

PET BOTTLES RECOLLECTED FOR RECYCLING

18

SCRAP DEALERS INTEGRATED INTO FAIR PRICING SYSTEM

20

BALERS INTEGRATED INTO FAIR PRICING SYSTEM

1935 TONS

CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCED

THE CHALLENGE

We have multiple stakeholders in the waste management sector who have been making efforts as per their capacity to enhance the mechanism. However, these scattered efforts have not been much instrumental to develop a proper recycling mechanism within the country. The need of the hour is not just to build a strong network of waste management players who can contribute their part from their side but also streamline it into an organized collective effort to recycle as much waste as we can, reducing our carbon footprint and bring sustainable change in the waste management sector.  

THE INTERVENTION

Through expansion of our existing network and collaboration with new partners, Recycler Saathi aims to eliminate this loophole of scattered efforts. It believes that it cannot work in isolation to tackle the problem of waste management and achieve the intended recovery numbers of waste PET bottles with individual effort. Hence, Recycler Saathi already has a network of different stakeholders that provide us with waste PET bottles as well as assist us with enhancing the waste management mechanism. The stakeholders involved range from waste collectors to local government.

A baling machine is present at Recycler Saathi’s office site in Chitwan. The waste PET bottles received from different collectors are received at the office site. The bottles are then baled by Recycler Saathi’s staff using the machine. 

The PROCESS

Our partners and stakeholders are in different capacities and have different roles. The partnership role is divided on the basis of contribution expected from them. Balers can partner with Recycler Saathi to provide their collection of waste PET bottles. Similarly, waste management organizations are welcome to join the network and collaborate with us to advocate for policy level changes. Educational institutions can join the network and allow space for their young students to learn and internalize the essence of environment conservation and recycling.

 

TESTIMONIALS

Collaboration with Chitwan National Park

RECYCLER SAATHI

OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY

OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY

RECYCLING CAN ONLY REAP ITS BENEFIT WHEN THE LARGER PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS

3541 +

CHILDREN REACHED

625 +

YOUTH REACHED

THE CHALLENGE

The greater goal of Recycler Saathi cannot be achieved in isolation. There is need for awareness among a larger mass of people, which we tend to lack. Especially the engagement of young students and children in actions for environment conservation is minimal and needs to be expanded. Without ground level realization from the community itself, no substantial change can be implemented. Further, policy level support which is imperative to inculcate and institutionalise any change is highly lacking in Nepal is terms of waste management.

THE INTERVENTION

The engagement of youth and children through youth clubs and Waste Smart Clubs has been initiated by Recycler Saathi. It believes in harnessing the power and enthusiasm of the young minds to bring change and influence the community that they live in and eventually attract greater momentum to the cause of recycling. Further, other stakeholders through partnerships are also engaged in the process of outreach and advocacy.

THE PROCESS

Waste Smart Clubs are mostly focused in government schools and has been engaging young students to understand the environment better. Similarly, youth have been engaged in the process through various voluntary activities. Recycler Saathi has also engaged the various groups of community through both physical and digital mediums. Through physical medium, it organizes and partakes in rallies, talk shows and stakeholders meeting. From digital platforms, it ensures awareness and engagement through PSAs, informative videos and posts.

AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

RECYCLER SAATHI

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

INVESTING IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY 

THE CHALLENGE

A linear economic model of take-make-dispose has influenced the consumption and production pattern of humans. While this is a convenient model that has been operating for very long and continues to do so, the challenges it brings are also many. One of its prominent problems is the waste that it creates and how haphazardly it is disposed of- ultimately impacting the ecosystem. With limited resources in hand, the sustainability of this model is also in question due to the excessive pressure it creates on the ecosystem.

THE INTERVENTION

Recycler Saathi’s project site in Bharatpur, Chitwan has made a conscious attempt to reduce its usage of virgin products even for construction. A building at the site is made through upcycled containers and glass bottles- hence diverting waste that would have ended up in the landfill. Further, the project site has a large patch of an organic garden- the vegetables from which are enough to sustain the team of Recycler Saathi for lunch.  A do-it-yourself vertical garden made entirely from scrap PET bottles also adorns the open space. The garden is decorated with upcycled old tyres and uses old water jars as plant pots. 

 

THE PROCESS

One cannot preach about sustainability on a broader level if micro-level changes are not initially initiated. The upcycled office space and organic garden is Recycler Saathi’s attempt to contribute towards a sustainable environment through mindful consumption and production. 

RECYCLER SAATHI

WASTE SMART SCHOOL

WASTE SMART SCHOOL

CREATING AN ALLIANCE OF YOUNG STUDENTS TO TAKE LEAD IN ACTIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

THE RIGHT GUIDANCE AT THE RIGHT TIME CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN IN THE CORRECT PATH

A good future for children implies a better future for the world because they are the doers of tomorrow. Waste Smart School is an initiative to ensure just that! We want to make sure that students or young children are conscious and well aware of their actions today so that they can shape a better future for the community

Waste Smart Schools focus on providing students with an environment friendly and environment conscious outlook that will shape their actions. We ensure students receive exposure to and well-rounded knowledge about the waste management scenario and individual as well as community level practices for environment protection.

Our Contribution to Global Goals

Join Our Newsletter

It’s so wonderful you’ll be joining our community!