From an early age Aayush Deuja was told by his father not to be lured by foreign pastures, unlike so many other Nepali youths. Find something to do in your own country, his father had told him. Deuja took this advice to heart and soon after completing his SLC exams in 2018, he started planning his own project.  

He wanted to set up a socially-responsible business. His research led him to one field where he thought he could make a difference: plastic recycling.  

Deuja learned that plastic granules, the raw material for plastic products, were being imported from India and Dubai. He also found that Kathmandu Valley churned out over three tons of plastic waste every day.

“My research suggested that it was possible to set up a plastic recycling plant, turn plastic waste into granules and supply them to various factories,” says Deuja.

Deuja’s father, who is in the garment business, helped him with funds to import a plastic recycling machine from India and set up a plant at Kapan. Thus began the story of Adhunik Pet Industries in late 2018.    

“The quality of our plastic granules and those imported from India are almost the same,” says Deuja.
The plant, though operating on a small scale, has helped reduce pollution in Kathmandu by recycling plastic waste.

Deuja doesn’t believe in banning plastic to solve our waste problem. He says plastic pollution could be reduced significantly by limiting plastic imports and focusing on recycling.

Today, Adhunik Pet Industries has been supplying reprocessed plastic granules to various factories that make plastic goods.

“Our plastic granules are available at a much cheaper rate compared to those imported from abroad,” Deuja says. The company buys plastic waste at Rs 130 a kg, converts the waste into plastic granules and sells them to factories at Rs 160 a kg. The plant can produce almost 10 tons of plastic granules in a month. 

Deuja and his father Achyut handle plant operations with the help of seven staffers. 

Deuja looks after demand and delivery while his father operates and manages ground workers. One of the staff members deals with plastic waste collectors and makes sure they have enough material to recycle.

“The business is going good. We have been supplying plastic granules to various companies,” says Deuja. “We are also working to develop our own website and a mobile app to collect plastic waste and sell granules to factories.”

Buoyed by the success, Adhunik Pet Industries is planning on expanding operations to other parts of the country. However, says Deuja, government policy is hindering company expansion. 

“Instead of promoting it, the government puts the recycling business under the manufacturing industry and levies five percent excise duty. We want the government to be more lenient,” Deuja says.

Moreover, he adds, it is not easy to obtain a license for a recycling business in the country.

“I know of many people who were unable to start recycling plants as they could not get the license,” he says. “These rigid regulations have dissuaded many young people with innovative ideas to solve our waste problem. The government should rethink its policy.” 

Adhunik Pet Industries

Establish year: 2018
Founder: Aayush Deuja
Service location: Kapan, Kathmandu
Contact: 9861475020
Social media link here.