Thimphu residents can now turn trash into cash. They can sell their dry waste, such as bottles, aluminium, plastics, and papers at newly established waste banks located at waste drop-off centres. Greener Way, a waste service provider launched the Bhutan Waste Bank on Friday. This initiative aims to improve waste management and support the capital’s goal of transitioning from a high-waste city to a zero-plastic city.
According to the Greener Way officials, recyclable wastes brought to the waste banks will be weighed, and sellers will be paid based on the type of waste.
For a kilogramme of waste, the rates are Nu 25 for PET bottles, Nu 20 for plastic waste, Nu 7 for paper or cardboard, Nu 10 for rubber and Nu 100 for aluminium.
For bottles, it is Nu 1 per bottle and Nu 3 per beer bottle.
The project is expected to process five metric tonnes of PET bottles daily, which will be washed, shredded and turned into flakes for export.
Additionally, three metric tonnes of plastic will be transformed into eco-poles for electric fencing and road markers daily.
The collected waste will be taken to a recycling and shredding facility, which is being constructed at Memelakha landfill site.
Karma Yonten, Founder of the Greener Way Private Limited said “The Bhutan Waste Bank is not just for our benefit. Normally, the thromde collects waste from the residents and takes it to the landfill at Memelakha. But with this project, we can reduce the waste that ends up in the landfill, which is good for the environment and can reduce the government’s expenses.”
He added that residents from nearby districts can also bring their waste to Thimphu for sale.
Residents welcomed this initiative.
Tashi Chhoeden, a resident said “First, it will benefit people as they get incentives for the waste. Secondly, I think it is a good source of employment opportunities for youth, with jobs such as managers and scale operators available through the project.”
Chablop Passang Tshering, another resident said “People usually do not listen when asked to take care of their waste. They say there is no use taking care of waste as it is not useful. But now it is clear that waste is money. I believe people will start taking care of waste.”
The waste banks are operating daily from 8 AM to 7 PM.
However, the waste banks currently do not accept metals and iron to avoid the risk of theft of public property.
There are 18 operators, two in each waste bank.
The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme supported the project with a budget of Nu 1.5 M.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Tshering Zam
