May 27, 2025
THIMPHU – A collaborative public-private partnership has resulted in the inauguration of two new community waste drop-off centres in Kelki and Hejo on May 23, valued at USD 140,000, marking a significant step towards enhanced waste management in the capital.
This public-private partnership aims to improve waste segregation and recycling infrastructure in the capital.
With these additions, Thimphu now boasts a network of 11 waste drop-off centres. Furthermore, ten additional waste storage facilities have been constructed across Thimphu Thromde, including one in Kawang, as part of the same initiative.
The waste collected at these strategically located facilities will undergo sorting before being transported to a central recycling hub in Bjemina. There, it will be processed into high-value products such as UR Bricks and PET pellets.
This closed-loop waste management model is designed to significantly reduce plastic pollution while simultaneously generating green jobs, supporting youth-led enterprises, and accelerating Bhutan’s transition towards a more sustainable circular economy.
While the physical infrastructure provides residents with designated spaces for waste segregation at the source, the project’s broader impact lies in its comprehensive and systemic approach to urban waste management.
The establishment of these new centres was spearheaded by the Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) in close collaboration with Thimphu Thromde and in partnership with Gross International Nature (GIN), a dynamic youth-led waste innovation group.
Each drop-off centre is equipped with a caretaker’s quarter, ensuring continuous on-site management and providing crucial livelihood opportunities for local waste workers. This element underscores the project’s commitment to social inclusion and fostering sustainable employment within the waste management sector.
According to BES, the project currently employs 13 youths and has reached over 5,100 individuals through various technical and awareness programmes. Impressively, the initiative has already retrieved 22,906 kilograms of plastic waste destined for landfills and the environment, with 16,198.13 kilograms successfully recycled.
Dorji Khandu, who has been managing the Kelki Drop-off Centre since 2018 for Thimphu Thromde, highlighted the tangible improvements brought about by the project.
“Before, the space was small and parking was difficult, making it challenging for residents to drop off their waste and for us to manage it efficiently. With the support from the PLEASE Project, BES, and Thromde, the centre has been rebuilt with more space and better parking. It’s now much easier for people to dispose of their waste responsibly and for us to carry out our work effectively,” he added.
This initiative falls under the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project, actively promoting Bhutan’s Waste Prevention and Management Act and the nation’s overarching commitment to achieving “Zero Waste Bhutan.”
The initiative, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), with technical and logistical support from UNOPS, is emerging as a successful model of collaborative governance. It effectively integrates civil society organisations, local government bodies, and youth-led innovation to address urban waste challenges and champion circular economy practices.
The project is slated to conclude in July this year, with a total funding of USD 1.04 million.