Gender and Waste Nexus: Experiences from Bhutan, Mongolia and Nepal

pollution and has dangerously high levels of particulate matter during winter months (Edwards 2018).

the waste tax. Plans have been developed to change tax collection methods and to shift from a household fee to an individual fee in order to increase the waste management budget. Private and public waste collection and transportation companies operate in the city, collecting and transporting waste from households and businesses to three main dumpsites in the city, including Tsagaan Davaa landfill. The cleaning of major streets and public spaces is organized by Ulaanbaatar TUK, 11 a public- owned company operational in the city, whereas the cleaning and collection of waste from smaller streets and roads is handled by district waste collection and transportation companies. Streets and public spaces are cleaned manually by street sweepers most of the time, who have limited tools to carry out their work, such as shovels, spades and small snow cleaning equipment..

Mongolia

A new waste law passed in 2017 shifts the responsibility forwastemanagement and handling towaste producers and enables authorities to issue fines to households and individuals for illegal behaviour, such as waste dumping. District officials are currently awaiting the development of specific rules and policies to implement this law effectively. Mongolia’s new waste law does not have a gender perspective. The waste management sector in Ulaanbaatar is heavily subsidized. At present, a modest waste tax is collected through electricity bills that amounts to approximately US$ 1 per month per household. Some households in ger districts do not pay electricity bills as they are not connected to the network, and therefore do not pay

27 Gender and waste nexus