Garbage fee from Rs 250 to Rs 50,000 per month

KATHMANDU, JUN 24 -

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has finalised the garbage charge for each waste generating source as per the quantity of rubbish they produce. The new rule will be enforced from the new fiscal year 2012/13.

KMC has proposed separate garbage collection fees for households, schools, industries, hospitals and hotels. The charge has been determined as per the quantity and hazardousness of waste produced by these sources.

According to KMC chief Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, the fee ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 50,000 per month. Each household will have to pay Rs 250 per month, a shop will be charged between Rs 300 to 500 and schools and bigger business Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. Large and hazardous waste producer like hospitals and industries will have to pay up to Rs 50,000 monthly. “We have finalised the rates after holding talks with stakeholders,” said Adhikari. “The new rule will be implemented once our Board endorses it.” The metropolis has called its board meeting on July 11.

The KMC waste collectors will weigh the waste before collecting them from the respective sources and will be segregated before transporting to the landfill sites. Of around 450 tonnes of waste generated from 35 wards of the KMC, the metropolis collects some 300 tonnes, while the private sector collects some 100 tonnes to dump at Okharpauwa and Sisdol landfill sites. There are 34 containers placed near the major waste producing sources, such as hospitals, industries and hotels. The KMC will increase the numbers of its big containers once its new plan gets translated into action.

In Nepal, where an average 250 gram waste is generated per person, the Solid Waste Management Act 2011 authorises the municipalities to file a case at the District Court and District Administration Office that carries up to one year jail term and Rs 100,000 in fine to those found involved in disposing garbage illegally.

A study shows that 332 kg of waste is generated by Bir Hospital alone everyday when there is 65 percent occupancy, while the waste volume reaches over 500 kg during the full occupancy. Of the total waste, 75 percent is highly infectious. Other hospitals in the Capital are yet to sterilise medical waste.