In a significant stride towards tackling the escalating waste problem in Thimphu, the Bhutan Waste Bank (BWB) initiative was launched on 16 August.
This initiative marks another important step in the city’s ongoing efforts to manage the increasing amount of waste it produces daily. The BWB is not just a tool for waste management; it represents a broader commitment to transforming Thimphu into a zero-plastic city by promoting waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.
BWB is the latest addition to Thimphu’s waste management infrastructure. It represents a significant step forward in the city’s efforts to manage waste at its source—right in the households. BWB’s core objective is to assist Thimphu in its transition from being the highest waste contributor in Bhutan to a zero-plastic city by 2030.
This ambitious goal is in line with global sustainability trends, emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
According to existing data, plastic waste in Thimphu is on the rise, fueled by increasing imports and a growing tendency among the population to use disposable, convenient products.
The National Waste Inventory Survey (NWIS) of 2019 highlighted that Thimphu generates 40.3 metric tonnes (MT) of solid waste each day, with plastics accounting for 13 percent of this total. This figure is particularly concerning as it constitutes nearly 70 percent of Bhutan’s total daily solid waste generation, which stands at 172.16 MT.
Given these statistics, it is clear that effectively managing Thimphu’s waste, particularly its plastic waste, will play a crucial role in achieving the national goal of Zero Waste by 2030. This goal requires reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill to less than 20 percent through effective segregation at the source and maximizing material recovery.
“The local government has supported us with the space to set up Waste Banks, and we, as the private sector, have come up with this innovative cash-for-trash model,” said Karma Yonten, CEO of Greener Way, which is implementing this groundbreaking and gender-transformative green initiative.
“Now we need the community to play their part in driving this initiative to address Thimphu’s waste challenges,” he added.
The advisor of Greener Way, Sangay Thinley Dorji said “Under the BWB initiative, Greener Way has established nine kiosks attached to the existing Drop-off Centers across Thimphu. These kiosks are strategically located in various parts of the city, including Dangrina, Pamtsho, and Babena in the north, Motithang, Changzamtok, and Changbangdu in the central zone, and Changjalu, Tsalumaphay, and Chubogang in the south”.
These locations were chosen to ensure easy access for residents, encouraging them to bring their segregated waste to the kiosks.The BWB kiosks accept a variety of waste materials, focusing on seven identified imperishables. Residents can exchange their segregated waste for money at these kiosks, providing a financial incentive to participate in the program.
The materials collected at these kiosks are then sent to Greener Way’s existing eco-pole plant, which will be expanded to accommodate the increased volume of waste. Additionally, a PET washing and shredding facility is being established at the Memeylakha landfill site to further process the collected materials.
The BWB project is not just about waste management; it also has significant social and economic benefits. The initiative is supported by the World Bank through the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia program.
The Advisor further added that one of the key benefits of this project is its potential to create employment opportunities for vulnerable groups in society, particularly those facing economic hardships, including women and youth”.
He stated,“Greener Way, which is responsible for implementing the BWB project, currently provides waste collection services to 50 percent of Thimphu.”
He said that the company operates a material recovery facility and employs a workforce that is largely composed of individuals from vulnerable sections of the population—80 percent of its employees come from these groups.
The BWB initiative is expected to create additional employment opportunities, further supporting these individuals and helping them secure a stable income.
The launch of the Bhutan Waste Bank is a critical step towards achieving long-term environmental sustainability in Thimphu. By promoting waste segregation at the source, the BWB initiative helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
The advisor added, “By incentivizing residents to participate in waste management through financial rewards, the BWB initiative encourages a cultural shift towards more sustainable practices. Over time, this shift could lead to a significant reduction in waste generation and an increase in recycling rates, helping Thimphu move closer to its goal of becoming a zero-plastic city”.
“One shopkeeper called me a few days ago to find out if she could bring her trash to the waste bank,” said Jan Maya Rai, 29, manager of Bebena Waste Bank. She was dressed in a white T-shirt and black trousers like other members of the Waste Bank team for the inaugural function at the Bebena Waste Bank. “There are already people eager to bring their trash.”
