Environmental research

For Municipal authorities, waste collection, management and disposal have emerged as major problems that have direct environmental consequences and health of its citizens. In fact, waste management is a growing problem for most municipalities since there is no well organized and reliable garbage and trash collection and recycling system in any large city in Nepal. Municipal authorities have a positive view that if a project that addresses environmental degradation, waste management and recycling, production of alternative fuels from waste, and generates some employment that uses individuals who may be HIV+ could be organized and executed by an NGO, they will assist in the setup and capitalization, mainly by providing real estate and building(s) for sitting and housing these operations and some enforcement capital in terms of directing municipality-paid trash collectors, and private scavengers, to deliver assorted materials to the recycling operation centers. With this background, HSWO approached Biogas Sector Partnership-Nepal (BSP-Nepal) for technical support and partnership in this joint initiative. The project interventions will address issues of reducing environmental degradation, producing alternative renewable energy, and generating employment opportunities for the disadvantaged and marginalized individuals especially those afflicted or affected by HIV and AIDS related illnesses. The GIPA Policy, which stands for Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), states that organizations have to make deliberate effort to involve PLWHA to empower them and enhance their self esteem at the same time reduce stigma and discrimination against them. The involvement of PLWHA in economic activities is one of such areas that would greatly enhance their economic independence thereby largely contributing to their self esteem. The project precisely intends to do so by generating employment that would aim at reducing environmental degradation of the area surrounding the Bus Park through waste collection, separation, and recycling and processing. The specific interventions would be: 1. A bio-latrine plant (35 m3 capacity) ingesting latrine waste, restaurant waste, biodegradable materials thrown away by bus park users as well as organic waste donated by the Kathmandu Municipality s waste collection and disposal authority. The gas generated will be sold to restaurant operators at reasonable price; it will be very effective and can safe carbon dioxide, fire wood saving and slurry production. Per year Carbon dioxide safe 43.17, Gas Production will be 8.4 m3 ( above 8 cylinders per day), Fire wood Saving 1458 m3 and slurry production per day will be 294 kg 2. (2) Technical support to give training to manufacture of briquettes made from choco to NGOs and plus organization can product and sell as alternative fuel to local vendors, travelers who arrive/depart from the Bus Park, and disadvantaged households in districts level and center level; and After training two groups will form, one is Kathmandu and another is in Dhanusa. This group will produce and market briquette in their area and if some other want to produce same briquette this group will give training to them in support of HSWO. (3) Technical support to compost production from biodegradable wastes collected in the Bus Park area and marketing the product for income generation. The project has a significant advocacy value because Bus Park s programme would be promoted nationally as a working symbol of a modern approach to environmental sanitation and protection, renewable energy production and employment (livelihood) opportunities for disadvantaged and low income people, particularly those most vulnerable to HIV infections. The potential for replicating the model in other Bus Parks in major towns and cities of Nepal is immense provided the piloting is successful.

Nepal