WASH FORUM Reloaded on Transforming Waste to Value: Opportunities and Challenges

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
-Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO jointly organized 3^rd series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Transforming Waste to Value: Opportunities and Challenges” on 24 January, 2020 at Decentralized Solid Waste Management (DESWAM) Compost Plant also known as Compost Production and Processing Center, Shankharapur Municipality, Sakhu, Kathmandu.

The main objective of 3^rd series of WASH FORUM Reloaded is to sensitize the youths on importance and ways of conversion of waste to productive value and, to provide knowledge to maximize value from waste by promoting recycling, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and creating green jobs through orientation along with the site observation.

Mr. Saroj Shrestha, Site manager of Blue Waste to Value (BW2V) facilitated the program to orient and for site visit for participants. The information about the establishment of BW2V, its partner organization, working mechanisms, advantages and existing challenges that BW2V is currently facing was shared during short orientation and introduction of the company. Along with introduction, Mr. Shrestha shared about future planning and strategies of BW2V to overcome the existing challenges. “Though we are not in extensive progress in present context, we are looking forward for strengthening financial status for this plant. Also, municipality has committed to support technically and financially”, said manager, Mr. Saroj Shrestha.

The participant also visited working site and observe the working processes. The Compost Production and Processing Centre collects decomposable and non-decomposable waste in different days. It collects the decomposable waste on Wednesday and Thursday. Organic shredder machine is used to make the fine pieces of the waste and de-watering machine is used to extract the liquid content present in the waste. The Effective Micro-organisms (EM) are used to decompose. After 30 days compost becomes ready for use. Such compost manure costs NRS 30/kg for local people. The compost plant also provides Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staffs for health and safety measures which found being properly used during the visit. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network coordinator of Paschim paaila, closed the session by providing vote of thanks to the facilitator and all participants. Altogether 18 participants joined the WASH FORUM Reloaded program from different institutes.

WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Exchanging waste to money: Opportunities and Challenges”

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized the very first series of WASH FORUM Reloaded (WFR) on 12 May, 2019 at Pasa Yard, Chakupat, Lalitpur. The main objective of the WASH FORUM Reloaded was to provide the platform for interactions, knowledge sharing and idea generation on different environment and health issues on WASH through entrepreneurship in WASH.

Ms. Urmila Lama, Executive member of Paschim Paaila, welcome all participants in the program with a welcome speech. The very first series of WASH FORUM Reloaded was organized on topic “Exchanging waste to money: Opportunities and Challenges” under the theme “Solid Waste Management” to share about techniques and technologies used by doko recyclers for recyclable solid waste management business and to highlight possible opportunities for youths in entrepreneurship of solid waste management.

Ms. Brinda Dewan, Urban Waste Manager from Doko Recyclers as the speaker of the program highlighted motivation for start-up business on recyclable solid waste management and associated issues and challenges faced in the business of recyclable solid waste management. Ms. Dewan also drew focus of participants towards lack of recycling factories for waste products such as glass, motherboard and bulbs as possible opportunity for willing to work in the sector of recyclable solid waste management business. During the program, the opportunity for youth was focused on advocacy for appropriate policy for solid waste management business and up cycling of waste to valuable products as small scale start up business.

WASH FORUM Reloaded was brought as version 60.1 of WASH FORUM. WASH FORUM was a monthly interaction forum for knowledge sharing and advocacy regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and disasters/epidemics as social issues, not merely health or, environment issues since April, 2010 in a topic on concerned issues of the time.  With new approach to WASH FORUM, WASH FORUM reloaded will be organized based on the broader theme for 3 to 4 series in specific topic fitting in the theme.

Also during the program, the winners of Facebook Photo Competition organized on the occasion of World Water Water Day 2019 on theme “Leaving No One Behind: Faecal Sludge Management for Safe Water” were appreciated with the certificate and gifts by Ms. Kamala K.C., initiator of Paschim Paaila. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, President of Paschim Paaila briefed about WASH FORUM, concept of WASH FORUM Reloaded and thanked the participants.

Altogether, 35 youths, WASH volunteers and WASH practitioners attended the program with interactive session. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila facilitated the overall program.