"The Government of Nepal should strongly raise the issues of transparent labelling of chemicals in plastic products, ban toxic recycling, effective plastic waste management, and most importantly, inclusion of the high mountain (including Mount Everest) plastic pollution into the upcoming UN Plastic Treaty`s fourth Intergovernmental Negotiation (INC4) meeting scheduled to be held in April 2024, Ottawa, Canada"
KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 26
While plastic pollution is hazardous to human health and the environment, experts claim that plastic producers, such as large corporations, have been able to avoid prosecution by exploiting legal loopholes. The experts say that in order to reduce plastic pollution, the government should make the policy and immediately put the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy into effect.
Concerns about the increasing amount of plastic packaging and electronic waste are warranted because these materials are difficult to recycle because of their complex composition, which frequently combines plastics with dangerous elements like lead, lithium, mercury, and cadmium.
Such careless disposal can have detrimental effects on the environment and human health, necessitating large financial outlays and cutting-edge technology for efficient recycling, according to experts.
Similarly, traditional waste management budgets fall short of meeting these evolving needs. Furthermore, traditional waste management strategies based on the polluter pays principle fail to address the complexities of modern waste, such as plastics and hazardous materials.
Mira Lamichhane, a solid waste expert, told the Himalayan Times that because Nepal is a signatory to the Basel Convention, it must strengthen domestic waste processing infrastructure to effectively manage plastic and hazardous waste internally, thereby prohibiting transboundary waste trade.
According to Mira, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy has emerged as a critical solution, transferring responsibility for the final disposal of these wastes to the industries, businesses, organisations, or individuals involved in their production and distribution. EPR, which has been widely adopted globally since the 2000s, requires producers and distributors to manage the disposal of the goods and packaging they introduce into the market.
"Enforcing EPR creates a structured approach to collecting and recycling discarded items, reducing environmental damage and promoting a circular economy by reintegrating waste materials into manufacturing processes," she said.
"Implementing EPR not only reduces the burden on local waste management authorities, but it also provides an opportunity to engage the informal sector, promoting job creation and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. By involving these stakeholders in Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), we can raise awareness and assess the impact of EPR policies, paving the way for future expansion and refinement."
She further said that, initially focusing on specific waste streams such as plastic packaging, e-waste, and hazardous materials, the phased implementation of EPR allows for gradual adjustments and assessments. "In the long run, this strategy may result in lower demand for raw materials, higher recycling rates, and less pollution and environmental damage brought on by hazardous waste and plastic."
In the absence of a holistic plastic waste management policy, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), plastic credits have gained popularity as a means to incentivize companies to reduce their plastic footprint.
However, she stated that this approach presents several challenges. "Plastic credits may promote greenwashing, be ineffective in driving real change, perpetuate environmental injustice, and be complex and variable in implementation. While they provide a temporary solution, comprehensive policies such as EPR are critical for holding producers accountable and encouraging sustainable practices to effectively address plastic pollution."
"Hence, the government should act promptly in drafting a comprehensive plastic waste management policy alongside Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)," she said and added.
"Delaying such measures could exacerbate the already critical issue of plastic pollution. Implementing a robust policy framework is essential to holding producers accountable, incentivizing waste reduction and recycling, and protecting the environment and public health."
Similarly, Ram Charitra Sah, Executive Director and Environment Scientist at the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED), stated, "Though the Government of Nepal's Environment Policy 2019 includes the Polluters Pays Principle (PPP), there is an absolute need to develop EPR strategies exclusively in Nepal."
According to Sah, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which was initially developed in the 1990s to regulate electronic products at the end of their lives, is now widely recognized as an effective waste management policy that can help improve recycling and reduce landfilling of products and materials.
In terms of plastic waste management, the EPR strategy will be beneficial in holding the most responsible plastic polluters accountable based on a brand audit. "Plastic waste brand audits and effective implementation of EPR strategies should go hand in hand," he stated.
"Because EPR encourages the recycling of plastic waste, one must be extremely cautious when promoting and advocating for recycling. To ensure the safety of recycled products, toxic recycling must be discontinued entirely."
He further explained that, as in the case of Nepal, children's toys were found to be contaminated with highly toxic and worldwide banned chemicals line Penta BDE and Octa BDE, known and listed Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) chemicals under the UN POPs Convention, to which Nepal has been a party since 2007.
Additionally, recycled plastic pellets around the world, including those from Nepal, were found to be contaminated with multiple toxic chemical plastic additives like Brominated Flame Retardant (BFRs), UV stabilisers, and Bisphenol A (BPA) (IPEN 2021).
"The Government of Nepal should strongly raise the issues of transparent labelling of chemicals in plastic products, ban toxic recycling, effective plastic waste management, and most importantly, inclusion of the high mountain (including Mount Everest) plastic pollution into the upcoming UN Plastic Treaty`s fourth Intergovernmental Negotiation (INC4) meeting scheduled to be held in April 2024, Ottawa, Canada," demanded Sah.
