Solid waste management in the Kathmandu Valley has been a perennial and pressing problem without a sustainable solution yet.

It seems living with waste piled everywhere in the streets has been a routine life for the residents of the Valley with garbage often waiting for its collection and disposal for days. Health risks posed by unmanaged waste have been a major concern while people passing by heaps of waste in the Valley’s streets have been affected. Furthermore, unmanaged solid waste has degraded the beauty of the Valley.

However, the election of Balendra Shah to the mayoral post in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) through the recently held local election has instilled hopes. The main election agenda of Shah, who won as an independent candidate, was to find a sustainable solution to waste management in the Valley. People pin their hopes on him as he who has won independently driven by his passion and energetic character. Time will tell how far he will be able to deliver.

But, Shah’s efforts are ongoing. Following his election as KMC mayor, he reached out to the residents of Sisdole and Bancharedanda where Valley’s waste was being dumped for years and inquired about their problems caused by the dumped waste. He is also figuring out what possible alternatives are out there to the problem.