BioComp Nepal’s river cleanup initiative collects 143.55 metric tons of waste
The initiative was part of the 'River Plus Project,' which aims to reduce plastic pollution in the region.
KATHMANDU: In a collaboration with People in Need and Clean Up Nepal, BioComp Nepal successfully carried out a river and stream cleaning campaign in the Kathmandu Valley, collecting a total of 143.55 metric tons of waste.
The campaign was made possible through the active participation of over 100 volunteers, local community members, Nepal Police, and students from various educational institutions.
The initiative was part of the ‘River Plus Project,’ which aims to reduce plastic pollution in the region.
The project was funded by the Plastic-Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia program, with support from the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program and the World Bank.
The project’s primary goal is to collect and recycle low-quality plastics, particularly in rivers such as Bagmati, Bishnumati, and Manohara, to tackle the issue of plastic pollution.
As part of the initiative, informal waste workers, migrant laborers, especially women and youth, were involved in the cleanup efforts.
BioComp Nepal’s CEO, Marten Nijhoff, highlighted that training was provided to these informal workers, who collected low-quality plastics from homes, industries, rivers, streets, and waste management centers.
The collected plastics will be taken to the newly established Zero-Emission Plastic Recycling Center in Simara, where they will be converted into plastic composite boards.
To date, BioComp Nepal has collected and recycled 80 tons of low-quality plastics.
The event saw participation from notable figures including Sanumaya Maharjan from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s Environmental Department, Rajesh Kumar Maharjan, Ward Chairperson of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Ward 2, Ward Member from Ward 9, the principal of Lalitpur Kalyaan Basic School, representatives from the Red Cross Circle, Nepal Semak, and other key stakeholders.
In addition, BioComp Nepal inaugurated a new plastic recycling center in Simara on March 17, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the region’s waste management efforts.
The facility is now fully operational and is expected to play a crucial role in sustainable plastic waste management.
