Banke, Oct 14: Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City has launched a campaign to make the city free of plastic.
The political parties also have committed in writing to support the campaign.
The Sub-Metropolis has prepared various outreach and educational materials, including posters and messages, on the negative impact of plastic.
It has also organised the 'Mirror Photo Exhibition' depicting the harmful effects of plastic waste.
Linen and paper bags are produced and distributed in collaboration with the non-government organizations as an alternative to polythene bags.
Although the sub-metropolitan city is preparing to reduce and ultimately ban the use of plastic products, the Waste Management Act that has been implemented since last year has not been able to incorporate the plastic waste. Therefore, there is the need for updating the Act.
Similarly, the sub-metropolis' programme and budget for this year has not been able to include the topic of making long-term plan on the management of waste.
"We would fix the shortcomings on the Act and policies. All things like making laws, amending them and appropriating the budget would be covered in the campaign," Mayor Dhawal Shamsher Rana said.
Various organizations are also collecting plastic waste at present as part of the campaign programme. But the plastic waste is not separated from other waste.
The sub-metropolis is especially taking initiative for curbing the use of polythene and encouraging the use of linen and paper bags.