As part of the flagship waste management programme, Bhutan targets to become a Zero Waste Society for all times to come. To realise this, the National Environment Commission (NEC) has developed a Zero Waste Mobile App, which is expected to be enforced officially next month. Therefore, districts are being familiarised with the app.
In Tsirang District, its environment office has trained local leaders, dzongkhag officials and heads of the regional offices on how to use the Zero Waste Mobile App.
The training, which was held almost a week ago, also saw stakeholders getting familiarised with a list of offences related to waste, paying penalties, and reporting offences to the authority.
The NEC developed the app in August this year and implemented it on a trial run a month later.
Local Leaders are supportive of the App and view this as an instrumental tool to manage waste sustainably.
“Earlier, we had to remind people not to litter irresponsibly and also have to look out for offenders, which were cumbersome. But with the App in place, anyone can lodge a complaint even by sending videos of those dumping wastes at inappropriate places,” said Thromde Ngotshab of Damphu Town, Dema Dukpa.
Others also think the Zero Waste Bhutan App will bring considerable improvement among the public in managing waste.
“The App will be of great help for local leaders to monitor illegal waste issues at the community level. I am pretty sure the App will bring a drastic change towards curbing the mounting waste problem in the country,” added Dzongkhag Tshogdu Chairperson of Tsirang, Beda Moni Chamlagai.
Similar training on the App will be conducted in all the 12 gewogs in Tsirang soon.
The NEC has submitted the proposed revised penalty rates and waste management rules and regulations to the cabinet for endorsement.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Pema Lhaden
