KATHMANDU: Ministry of Local Development has forwarded a proposal to the cabinet for the formation of a high-level special committee to oversee the scientific management of garbage produced in the capital city.

"We registered the proposal at the office of the prime minister and council of ministers today to form a high level special committee for scientific garbage management," said Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, MoLD spokesperson. "The proposal was prepared as per the direction of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal."

The government has included its plan to manage the valley's garbage in an integrated manner in the budget for the current fiscal. Thapaliya said the programme plans to include the private sector in the garbage management. The government will provide land for the plant and exempt taxes for the trash-based industry.

The special committee will be headed by a member of National Planning Commission and will comprise representatives from the ministries of Finance, Energy, Environment, Land Reforms and Local Development. The proposal is believed to be approved by the next cabinet meeting since it is in the top priority lot.

MoLD sources said the terms of reference to be finalised by mid-November has already been prepared. The committee will publish notice, draft the project procedure, finalise location for the plant and select a private company through a bid.

When the agent to run the energy industry has been selected, the modality of production such as compost fertiliser, waste recycling and gas production will be sorted out.

Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre of the ministry estimates that about 80 per cent of the garbage can be utilised in some form while the rest needs dumping.