In a recent policy shift, the government has announced the discontinuation of the waste management flagship programme initiated by the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa administration during the 12th Plan. This move, as outlined by officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), marks a significant change in the nation’s approach to managing waste.
Launched on June 2, 2019, the waste flagship programme aimed to tackle Bhutan’s waste management issues by promoting a “Zero Waste Bhutan” initiative. This programme included the creation of a National Waste Management Committee, composed of representatives from various agencies, to oversee its implementation.
Despite the programme’s conclusion, MoENR officials assured that waste management efforts will continue under the new 13th Plan. The government’s revised strategy will emphasize reducing landfill waste and enhancing recycling processes through a circular economy approach. This involves developing integrated waste management estates, collaborating with the private sector, and advancing waste-to-energy projects.
The waste flagship programme aimed to drastically reduce the landfill disposal rate from over 80 percent to below 20 percent. Its measures included source segregation, establishing waste collection and drop-off facilities, and ensuring timely waste collection. Notably, 90 percent of the programme’s targeted activities have been successfully achieved, including the construction of waste collection facilities, installation of incinerators, and the development of the Zero Waste App and national waste inventory.
Among the key achievements were the development of a national waste information system, the National Waste Management Strategy 2019, and the zero waste hour campaign. Additionally, the Zero Waste Bhutan app has been instrumental in tracking waste-related offenses, documenting 436 offenses and 369 incidents thus far. Public infrastructure improvements included the procurement of over 300 street litter bins and the establishment of 25 waste collection facilities and nine drop-off centers in Thimphu.
A material recovery facility is currently under construction in Taba, Thimphu, although its progress has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing challenges. The pandemic has highlighted the difficulties in achieving waste management goals, particularly in altering public behavior and improving access to waste management resources.
Officials emphasized the need for a robust industrial ecosystem to support recycling initiatives, noting that effective waste management requires not only infrastructure but also changes in public attitudes and behaviors. The National Waste Inventory Survey of 2019 reported Bhutan generates 172.16 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, with Thimphu contributing 40.3 metric tonnes. Plastic and paper waste constitute significant portions of this total.
In response to the evolving waste management landscape, Greener Way recently introduced the Bhutan Waste Bank. This initiative, launched in April, aims to incentivize waste segregation and contribute to Bhutan’s goal of achieving zero waste by 2030, while also reinforcing the country’s carbon-neutral status.
