Thinley Namgay

Addressing plastic waste requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach involving the collective efforts of all stakeholders and society. At the heart of the problem lies human behaviour—without a shift in mindset, the issue will persist. These key points were emphasised during a high-level roundtable discussion on “Plastic Waste Management Challenges and Solutions in Bhutan” held in Thimphu yesterday.

This was one of six roundtable meetings held so far across the South Asian region. Representatives from the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), Please Project, UN agencies, government, private sector, and civil society organisations participated in the event.

Despite fines and penalties imposed on offenders, these measures have not been effective in curbing plastic waste. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Gyem Tshering, said that with modernisation, plastic waste has become an urgent issue, threatening both public health and the environment.

Currently, Bhutan produces 172.16 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, with Thimphu alone accounting for 40.3 tonnes. Non-segregation and careless dumping remain major obstacles in addressing waste management. Thimphu and Phuentsholing have the highest density of plastic waste production, with 18,000 tonnes of plastic consumed annually and 14,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated each year.

Norbu Wangchuk, director general of SACEP, underscored that plastic waste is a global problem and called for greater collaboration to tackle the issue.

Dr Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh, the WHO Representative to Bhutan, said that addressing plastic waste required a reduction-oriented approach across all sectors. She gave a simple example, where WHO meetings and seminars do not encourage the use of plastic bottled water.

“Recycling plastic alone will not solve the problem in the long run,” Dr Aulakh said.

As an import-driven country, where most goods are wrapped in plastic, tackling plastics will be challenging for Bhutan. However, some experts believe that the problem Bhutan faces today is still insignificant compared to other countries in the region.

Bhutan has a vision to achieve a Zero Waste Society by 2030. Officials commended Bhutan for having good rules and regulations in place, but the question remains whether they are being fully implemented.

In 20 dzongkhags, there are only 27 landfills, which is insufficient given the growing waste problem. And top it up with inadequate waste drop-off centres and recycling facilities—the problem expands.

To make the matter worse, only a few people are interested in engaging in waste-related businesses.

Over the years, some notable initiatives in waste management have included Zero Waste initiative, waste segregation and recycling programmes, and awareness campaigns, among others.

One of the discussions focused on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy.

The director of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Sonam Tashi, said that Bhutan was yet to implement the EPR policy. “This policy is still under discussion as we need to consider many aspects.”

The global EPR policy holds producers and importers accountable for the waste generated by their products. However, Sonam Tashi said that implementing this policy in Bhutan today may not be fair, considering the country’s minimal plastic production.