Stiff penalty for throwing trash from vehicles

Kathmandu, December 15

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has directed the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and all sub-metropolitan cities and municipalities to initiate action under Solid Waste Management Act, 2011 against anyone who throws trash from moving vehicles.

A notice issued today by the ministry said municipalities were asked to arrest the passenger along with vehicle staffers and take action against them as per the existing laws, if they were found throwing trash from a vehicle.

The municipal authorities have also been asked to make the names of such persons public. The law has stipulated a provision of punishing a litter lout with a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or an imprisonment of up to three months or both.

The MoFALD had recently concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association for the control and management of waste produced from public vehicles.

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

Both the parties have 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 things, from a moving vehicle.

As per the agreement, all public buses, minibuses, microbuses and tempos will have to make arrangements of trash bin or plastic bag for passengers to dispose of the waste they generate during their journey.

The concerned driver or helper of a public vehicle should 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, the passengers will be reminded of it every three hours. According to MoFALD, the driver or helper will urge the passengers to throw trash into the bin or plastic bags before the vehicle is stopped at highway eateries for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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