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

Recycling Waste trade is a booming business. Nepal is familiar with recycling principles, both historically and culturally. While there are no official data about the rate of recycling in Nepal, it was observed that a lot of waste is in fact recycled, indicating that the percentage must be high. In Nepal, recycling mostly occurs through the informal waste sector. A study published by Kathmandu University estimates that Nepal recycles or reuses roughly 53 per cent of its scrap waste (Luitel and Khanal 2010). A large amount of scrap is exported, mainly to India. Since this activity is informal and managed by the Indian community, it creates economic loopholes as money flows out of the country. It is difficult to identify how many scrap dealers operate in Kathmandu or Nepal in general. The Office of the Company Registrar has 152 scrap dealers on file in Nepal (Nepal, MoFAGA 2018). A 2010 study reported that there were 178 scrap shops in the country (Luitel and Khanal 2010), while the recent PRISM project reported that there are an estimated 700–800 unregistered kabadis or waste dealers. Most scrap yards belong to Indian men living in Nepal, whose families remain in India. “The value associated with waste is so lucrative.” – Young entrepreneur from Kathmandu.

“You find a scrap yard every five minutes, similar to temples in Kathmandu.” – Young entrepreneur from Kathmandu. The waste recycling business is also built on social stereotypes associated with the roles of men and women. An interview revealed that it is extremely unusual to find women in charge of recycling businesses. While there are many women involved in the waste sector, their role is more linked to upcycling rather than recycling businesses. There is no existing analysis about the value chain in the waste trade system. Interviews conducted as field research only revealed that informal scrap dealing is a lucrative business, which at times is carried out by syndicates. Waste trading can be dangerous and have life-threatening risks, particularly in selected areas of Kathmandu, which may be a reason for women’s limited involvement. Before scrap reaches its final recycling destination, a minimum of four transactions are usually carried out between waste pickers, scrap collectors, scrap dealers and middlemen. This informal waste trading scheme inevitably creates large tax evasions throughout the value chain.

Nepal

Gender and waste nexus

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