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One more Nepali youth—Sajan Gurung (32) from Lamjung district—has died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, pushing further the toll of Nepalis in the war and raising questions about the safety of more than 200 youths that are reportedly involved in the war. Leaving behind his parents, wife and son, Gurung had headed for Russia three months ago and joined the Russian army. His family came to know about his death five days ago. 

Though the government claims to have intensified diplomatic efforts with Russia to address some of the key concerns surrounding the Nepali youths involved in the war, nothing has been done as yet to repatriate the youths. The government maintains that the Kremlin should have stopped the Nepalis from joining the Russian army in the first place.  Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said recently that approximately 200 Nepalis have been serving in the Russian army, but independent observers have said upon their return from Russia that the number could be much higher. Till date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of more than 10 Nepalis in the war. 

In the wake of mounting deaths in the war, the Department of Foreign Employment has stopped issuing work permits to those seeking jobs in Russia and Ukraine.  The government seems to have no idea about the exact number of Nepalis fighting the war, the number of prisoners of war and the number of those injured in action. Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud had pledged to seek those details, in vain.

Nearly 5,000 households in Mugu district are living without electricity and still rely on solar or traditional lamps. 

The lack of electricity access has greatly affected the livelihood of the people, from cooking to charging electronic devices. 

In Chhayanath Rara Municipality alone a total of 2,546 households are living in the dark. It’s the same for the residents of Khatyad Rural Municipality. 

Local people say very few families have installed solar panels to power their homes, but they are not reliable. 

The people of Khatyad Rural Municipality have long been waiting for the completion of a hydropower project which has been in limbo for the last five years. 

The national transmission line has been extended only till Gamgadhi, the district headquarters, and places outside have no electricity. 

A jeep with an Indian number plate plunged into the Trishuli River on Tuesday.

 The vehicle fell into the river at Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-5 along Narayangadh-Muglin road section early this morning.

Deputy Superintendent of Police at District Police Office, Chitwan, Shree Ram Bhandari, informed that the jeep had fallen some 85 meters down the road.

Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of the Armed Police Force, Shailendra Thapa, informed that a team led by a police inspector at the APF disaster management training institute of Kurintar immediately left for the site after receiving information about the incident.

The locals had shared information about the accident.

The divers of APF have recovered the jeep. However, it is not sure whether the jeep had passengers, Thapa added.

Kathmandu has always struggled to manage its waste. Hopes were pinned on the city mayor Balen Shah’s plans to segregate waste at source. But around 200 vehicles still dump garbage at Banchare Danda every day. Much of the collected waste—around 1,200 tons daily—ends up in the landfill. Those who work in waste management say Banchare Danda is fated to go the Sisdol way. What we now have is only a temporary respite to the city’s trash problems as the focus continues to be on dumping. 

However, experts say this could change if Nepalis become conscious of what they throw and how. Kiran Shrestha of Action Waste Pvt. Ltd. says the weight and bulk of trash have been steadily increasing as Nepalis toss things that needn’t be thrown away. Clothes, books, utensils, and electronics, among other things, are regular items in the trash Action Waste collects from its designated areas of Anamnagar and Seto Pul in Kathmandu.

On the surface, many people seem to have adopted eco-friendly lifestyles. Millennials increasingly favor brands that promote sustainability. Though the market for eco-friendly products is yet to become mainstream, there is no dearth of businesses that promote sustainability. Unfortunately, most consumers are buying and thus throwing more stuff as they try to switch to greener alternatives.

A passing trend 

“Sustainability has become a passing trend in Nepal and that’s worsening our trash problem,” says Anjana Malla, founder of Deego Nepal, a brand that provides eco-friendly alternatives for daily use items. Malla says there’s a lack of slow and responsible consumption. People easily tire of what they have and they want something new, even though old items work perfectly well. 

“If you are throwing away, say, a water bottle just because it’s made of plastic and getting a glass one in its place, you are creating more waste. That isn’t the principle of sustainability. That’s not being eco-friendly,” she says. What you can and should do is use what you have for as long as you can and then invest in eco-friendly options when you have to replace something. 

But that is not what is happening. Rupak Parajuli, the owner of Hempko, a business that provides sustainable and eco-friendly products, says there are very few conscious consumers. Most buy things on a whim. He believes this mindset, where the emphasis isn’t on the durability of a product but rather on its attractiveness, is the reason behind the increasing volume of waste.

It’s not unusual for people to have multiples of everything. We buy things as they look attractive or they are cheap. Most of these items often sit unused in forgotten corners of our homes. The products expire or the novelty wears off and we get rid of them. Parajuli says we are driven by materialistic aspirations. The more you have, the more you want, and the more you eventually throw away. 

Intention-action gap 

“We blame the government for our inefficient waste disposal system but we must first look at our own problematic behavior,” says Parajuli. We look for an easy way out, choosing to replace something rather than repair it. We want newer models of items that we already have. It doesn’t help that the market is saturated with products of all kinds. Parajuli adds that people are aware of the importance of leading a sustainable lifestyle and the intent is there too but there is a gap between intention and action. 

Nitesh Sharma, founder of Dhaaso, an upcycling company, says people like the idea of being eco-friendly and sustainable. But they also prefer the fine finish of factory-made products and the convenience of disposable items. Dhaaso was launched eight years ago and Sharma laments that it is still difficult to educate people about the need to upcycle to keep something from being sent to the landfill. 

“Our customers know Dhaaso upcycles and that our products are made from discarded materials. It can never be as good as mass-manufactured products. But we’ve still had five order cancellations in the past week,” says Sharma, adding that there’s a disconnect between ideals and aspirations. 

As Nepal imports most things, fixing them is sometimes impossible. The required parts aren’t easily available. This also contributes to a lot of waste. At the moment, there is enough scrap in Kathmandu junkyards to last 20 to 30 years, says Sharma. Buying locally made products could change this but people tend to prefer either branded goods or cheap Chinese knockoffs. 

Kushal Acchami of Samsara Creation says we need a comprehensive approach to waste management, one that highlights the necessity of reusing what we have to serve different purposes. Manu Karki, founder of Eco Sathi Nepal, says people aren’t being creative with household items which is why every slightly damaged piece makes its way to the dumpster. 

“You can use a chipped ceramic jug or a mug as a planter. You can repurpose an old bottle into a vase. You can turn bits of fabric into pot holders,” she says. But people either don’t have the time or don’t want to put in the extra effort. “The result is a use-and-throw culture that doesn’t align with the principles of sustainability,” adds Acchami. 

The way out 

Nepal lacks the resources for large-scale recycling. There are some companies, like Doko Recyclers and Khalisisi, that provide recycling facilities but they don’t handle large volumes of waste. Raghavendra Nahto, co-founder of Doko Recyclers, says his company handles less than a percent of the waste Kathmandu generates daily. In the past five years, says Mahto, little has changed in the way Kathmandu manages its waste. 

Reducing waste at source is the only way to tackle the growing problem of waste management, he says. He believes we need a national-level campaign to make people aware of the implications of their wasteful behavior. Parajuli, on the other hand, thinks programs in schools and colleges on the importance of being eco-friendly can bring slow change in the way we shop. “We need to have more conversations on sustainability and how we can incorporate it into our current lifestyle. We need a movement,” he says. 

Three basic ways to embrace sustainability 

1. Use what you have 

According to Karki of Eco Sathi Nepal, many people think being eco-friendly means not using plastic. So, they get rid of plastic bottles and containers. The basic principle of sustainability is to prolong the life of what you have. Plastic, she adds, isn’t the villain here. Our mentality that we must get rid of them anyhow is the problem. 

Giving away what you don’t need instead of putting it in the dustbin can also help, says Malla of Deego Nepal. “We can donate the things we don’t need if they are in good condition. After all, one man’s trash could be another man’s treasure,” she says.  

2. Don’t buy single-use items

Disposable cups, water bottles, plates, and straws are all very convenient to use but they create a lot of waste. Malla says people these days use disposable plates and cutlery even when hosting parties at home. Restaurants too are wasteful. Most of them have tie-ups with various water bottling companies and serve mineral water instead of regular tap water. It generates a lot of unnecessary plastic waste at the end of the day. “Individuals and businesses both need to be mindful of this. Unfortunately, most businesses are purely commercial and not very ethical,” she says. 

3. Be a conscious consumer  

Before buying anything, ask yourself if you need it. Oftentimes, we buy stuff as we are bored or they look appealing. But a new notebook isn’t going to change your life. Neither is a new bag going to significantly uplift your ensemble. So, consider your purchases. When you inevitably have to replace something, look for eco-friendly alternatives. 

“Shopping local is one of the ways in which people can embrace sustainability. When you buy products that are made in Nepal you are already reducing your carbon footprint,” says Parajuli of Hempko.