YK Poudel

To combat the growing waste crisis, the Greener Way launched the Bhutan Waste Bank (BWB) on August 17, 2024. In just two months, the initiative has engaged 1,993 customers—comprising 827 women and 1,134 men—resulting in the recovery of approximately 92 metric tonnes (MT) of waste.

The CEO of the Greener Way, Karma Yonten, expressed satisfaction with the programme’s progress. “We have received positive feedback from residents, and participation continues to grow as awareness spreads,” he said.

However, he said that one significant challenge is the improper segregation of waste, which currently has a lower market value.

To address this, the Greener Way is ramping up public education on waste segregation and refining its incentive structure to encourage more effective sorting of recyclable materials, especially plastics.

“The primary materials recovered so far include cardboard and paper, accounting for 27.4 percent and 28 percent of the total waste, respectively,” Karma Yonten explained.

Interestingly, the data reveals a higher participation rate among men. “While women often handle waste collection and segregation at home, men are more engaged in the actual drop-off,” he said, adding that efforts are underway to encourage greater female participation.

One participant deposited waste worth approximately Nu 26,080 in just two months.

So far, the BWB has incentivised around Nu 900,000 for waste depositors across nine drop-off centres and a material recovery facility in Babesa.

The Changzamtog drop-off centre leads with the highest waste recovery at 9MT while Babesa’s facility has received 26MT.

The chief environment officer of Thimphu Thromde, Sonam Wangchuk, highlighted improvements in waste segregation and disposal at the Memelakha Landfill since the initiative’s launch.

“Through nine drop-off centres, we collected 841 tonnes of dry waste and 786 tonnes of wet waste in July 2024. By August, those numbers decreased to 668 tonnes of dry waste and 680 tonnes of wet waste, marking significant reductions,” he said.

Daily disposal at Memelakha Landfill also fell from 52.5 tonnes per day in July to 43.5 tonnes in August, marking a 17.14 percent reduction. “This initiative shows the value of community participation in reducing landfill waste.”

The Thimphu Thromde oversees 18 scrap dealers contributing to the Waste Bank initiative, though the total number of independent scrap dealers remains uncertain.

In response to questions regarding the lack of waste collection data from the previous year, Thromde officials attributed it to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shifts in focus toward immediate public health concerns. Moreover, changes in waste management practices, such as the introduction of new initiatives like the Waste Bank, have shifted priorities toward implementation rather than retrospective analysis.

Another reason, according to the Thromde, is the limited technical capacity and funding constraints which have impacted the ability to conduct comprehensive waste data studies in 2023. The 2019 data is the most recent comprehensive reference.

According to Sonam Wangchuk, the Thromde has undertaken several initiatives aimed at enhancing waste management and promoting a circular economy. “One of the key efforts, towards waste management and circular economy, is the establishment of waste drop-off centres, and establishing a Material Recovery Facility.”

In addition, there are plans for designing and constructing an integrated waste management facility to streamline waste processing and recovery. Plans are underway to establish a recycling hub at Bjemina—an initiative to reduce waste and enhance recycling capacities in Thimphu.

The Thromde aims for a Zero Waste Bhutan by 2030, aligning with the National Waste Management Strategy, which emphasises effective source segregation and maximum material recovery.

Thimphu Thromde has set aside a significant amount for waste management initiatives. “While the exact figure may vary, it reflects a commitment to improving waste management infrastructure and practices, ensuring that the city can effectively handle its growing waste challenges,” Sonam Wangchuk said.

To address the increasing volume of wet waste, the Thromde is developing project proposals with external partners to establish composting facilities that convert organic waste into valuable resources for local agriculture.

“This approach aims to reduce landfill waste while providing a valuable resource for local agriculture, aligning with the vision of achieving Zero Waste Bhutan by 2030,” he said. “This initiative emphasises effective source segregation and maximising material recovery.”

In 2024, Thimphu Thromde collected an average of 926 tonnes of dry waste and 794 tonnes of wet waste monthly. Around 15 compactors were deployed throughout the city for efficient waste collection and transportation.