From Thursday, if you see someone dumping waste illegally and report it through the Zero Waste Bhutan app, you will be rewarded with 30 per cent of the fine that is collected from the offender. This is an initiative by the National Environment Commission (NEC) to curb the ever-increasing waste management issue. The Zero Waste Bhutan app was officially launched today.
To report an offence, an individual has to install the app and register and then take pictures of the offenders and report it through the app.
Informers can also provide Citizenship Identity Card and mobile phone numbers of the offenders if possible .
Individuals can also report about accumulated wastes at various places without registering but they will not be rewarded.
The app was developed some four months ago.
“The app will have the outreach capability in terms of educating about waste management. The app will also have a penalising system where all Bhutanese citizens can become waste warriors and report on incidences. We have both penalties and 30 per cent incentives,” said Sonam P Wangdi, Secretary of the NEC.
Besides, the app will be used for awareness, education and enforcement purposes.
The Commission in collaboration with Waste Management Committee also launched an online Campaign called Waste Jingle Tiktok challenge. This is to promote and create awareness of waste issues.
“This is basically an awareness programme where we are trying to involve all the social media influencers to reach out, where we can educate everyone in the country about waste management, especially in terms of behaviour change, in terms of changing the mindset towards ‘my waste my responsibility’,”added the Secretary.
According to the National Waste Inventory Survey 2019, Bhutan generates more than 172 tonnes of waste per day. Thimphu alone generates more than 60 tonnes per day.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Tshering Zam
