September 18, 2024
16th September 2024, Kapan, Kathmandu, Nepal — On 16th September 2024, Ms. Rokaya Khaton, Director General of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), accompanied by a team from PLEASE Project Nepal team, visited the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) site in Kapan. The facility operates under Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers of Nepal) by CREASION funded by the PLEASE Project, implemented by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, supported by the World Bank, and with implementation support from UNOPS. The visit was aimed at observing the progress and exploring opportunities for further impact.
The Kapan MRF plays a crucial role in recovering PET bottles from various vendors. These bottles are compacted using a baling machine, which significantly reduces their volume, facilitating easier transportation to recycling centers across the country. As part of Project CAP, the MRF is undergoing substantial upgrades to become a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)-friendly facility, with improved infrastructure. Additionally, the MRF is creating new job opportunities and providing training to its workers in areas such as enterprise management, gender responsiveness, and occupational health and safety.
During her visit, Ms. Khaton emphasized the importance of integrating housewives into the project by offering them training and employment opportunities. To drive an even greater impact, Ms. Khatun encouraged CREASION to engage government bodies and the private sector as strategic partners in policymaking. Ms. Khatun’s visit to the MRF site serves as a powerful call to action for all stakeholders—including individuals, government bodies, and private sector partners—to unite in addressing the issue of plastic pollution.
