Nepal’s first recycling plant capable of processing green PET plastic bottles has been inaugurated in Bharatpur. The facility was launched under Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers of Nepal), as part of broader efforts to improve plastic waste management in the country.

The project is part of the regional PLEASE (Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia) initiative, which is implemented by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) with support from the World Bank and UNOPS. The inauguration event was organized by CREASION, the lead implementing organization for Project CAP.

According to CREASION, nearly 20,000 tons of plastic enter Nepal’s rivers every year. The new facility aims to address this issue by enabling the recycling of green PET bottles, which are often excluded from conventional recycling systems.

The launch event was attended by several officials, including Norbu Wangchuk, Director General of SACEP; Komal Karki, Country Director of UNOPS Nepal; and Joseph Ese Akpokodje, Task Leader of the PLEASE Project and Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank. Also present were government officials, environmental specialists, and members of the local community.

CREASION’s Founder and President Aanand Mishra, who chaired the program, said the facility is a step toward expanding Nepal’s recycling capacity and reducing plastic pollution at the source.