By Kshitiz Siwakoti, Kathmandu, May 21: There has been a sharp decline in the generation of waste in the country's capital Kathmandu due to the prohibitory order that has been imposed to contain the transmission of the Coronavirus.

According to Hari Shrestha, Chief of the Environment Department of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), prior to the prohibitory order, the waste generated on an average day was approximately 1000 to 1200 metric tonnes. But now the waste generated has plummeted to only 400 to 500 metric tonnes per day.

“The reduction of waste has also reduced the need for garbage collection vehicles. Prior to the prohibitory order around 350 vehicles were deployed for garbage collection. But now, 250 vehicles are sufficient to collect the garbage of Kathamandu,” Chief Shrestha said. 

He added that a major reason for the reduction of waste has been a complete halt in the activities of the commercial sector such as factories and various other businesses.

“Along with the commercial sector, the halt in the mobility of people has also prevented large gatherings and parties which has drastically reduced the waste generated,” Shrestha told The TRN Online.

The bulk of the waste collected now mostly only consists of household organic waste, such as fruits and vegetable peels. 

The Environment Department Chief has urged the residents of Kathmandu to reuse organic waste as compost for flowers and to reuse glass and plastic waste as much as possible or to sell it to the Kabadiwalas, recycle vendors.

(Kshitiz Siwakoti is an intern with the TRN Online)