Public vehicles required to have trash bins

Kathmandu, December 13

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association for the control and management of waste generated from public vehicles.

With the signing of the MoU yesterday, both the parties agreed to collaborate with each other to end the culture of throwing empty beverage cans, pet bottles, plastic bags, food scraps and fruit peels among other waste out from a moving vehicle.

As per the agreement, the FNNTEA will cause all public buses, minibuses, microbuses and tempos to make arrangements of dirt bin or plastic bag meeting the standard prescribed for the passengers to dispose of the waste they generate during their journey from December 16.

It will also require the transport entrepreneurs and staffers to display in a visible place a notice prohibiting disposal of trash from the window or door of a vehicle.

The concerned driver or helper of a public vehicle will also appeal to the passengers not to throw waste from the vehicle and to cooperate with the government and transport entrepreneurs to keep the city and highways clean. In the case of long-route vehicle, passengers will be reminded of it every three hours.

According to the MoFALD, the driver or helper will urge the passengers to throw the trash into the bin or plastic bags of the prescribed standard before the vehicle is stopped on highway eateries for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The waste produced in the vehicle will be collected by the concerned municipality from its destination, mainly the bus park areas.

The new provisions of waste management will come into effect across the country, including Kathmandu Valley.

Any one who does not comply with the provision despite repeated warnings will be liable to legal action under the Solid Waste Management Act, 2011. As per the law, a litter lout may face a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or an imprisonment of up to three months or both.

People living in cities and areas along the national highways have long been suffering from trash and vomit bags thrown by passengers from moving vehicles.