Following are some of the legal and policy setup in the solid waste management sector in Nepal.

  SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION ACT, 1987

The Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilization Act introduced in 1987 outlines the
duties of SWMRMC and authorizes it to take action to control haphazard waste disposal and to
collect service fees. Likewise, the act has provisions for various punitive measures against those
engaged in activities detrimental to the intentions of the Act. To facilitate implementation of the
Act, SWMRMC Rules were formulated in 1989 (Rules and Regulations, 1989, and Bye-Laws,
1990 of SWMRMC). These Rules laid down procedures to be followed by individuals and
institutions designing sanitation services, solid waste collection and operation of public toilets.
Read More »   THE TOWN DEVELOPMENT ACT, 1988
Clause 9 of this Act empowers the Town Development Committee to regulate, control or
prohibit any act or activity which has an adverse effect on public health or the aesthetics of the
town, or in any way pollutes the environment. It contains penalty provisions in the form of fines
for the violation of the Act.
Read More »   LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE ACT, 1999
  THE NEPAL ENVIRONMENT POLICY AND ACTION PLAN, 1993 (NEPAP (3))

The NEPAP mentions Solid Waste only in few paragraphs. In essence it suggests that MSW
collection and disposal be organized and managed at the ward level, including the levying and
collection of fees from residents. As a follow up (Phase II) Stage of NEPAP (4), HMGN
produced draft ‘Sector Action Plans’.

The Sector Action Plan incorporate a number of specific project proposals in relation to Solid
waste Management

 the development of waste exchange and waste minimization program for industries
(Project number and code : 0608 ITEC)

 the development of Waste Act (Project number and code : 1000 XLAW)

 the development of National Waste Management Policy (Project number and code : 099
WSOL)

 Waste Management through Private Sector (Project number and code : 113 WSOL)

Read More »   THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT, 1996

Sub-article 7.1 of this Act prohibits haphazard waste disposal, which will have an adverse impact
on environment or civic health.

Read More »   ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION RULE, 1997 (FIRST AMENDMENT,

1999)
Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 related with Rule 3 of the Environment Protection Rule, 1997 (first
amendment 1999) has mandatory provision to conduct Initial Environmental Examination or
Environment Impact Assessment of Solid Waste Management Projects depending on their
nature.
Read More »   NATIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, 1996
In 1996, His majesty’s Government of Nepal created the National Waste Management Council
(NWMC) under the chairmanship of the Minister for Local Development. This Council works as
a technical arm of the Ministry, and is responsible for national policy making.

The National Solid Waste Management Policy adopted in 1996 is a major step forward in this
endeavor. The major objectives of this policy are :

 to strengthen local governmental units for more efficient and reliable solid waste
management

 to launch awareness campaigns in order to muster public participation

 to involve non-governmental organizations in waste management

 to develop appropriate local technology for waste management

 to manage final disposal sites as per their amount and nature

 to make solid waste management an economically self-sufficient (sustainable) and self-

reliant activity

 to promote self-help cleansing schemes

 to mobilize waste as recycling resources

 to privatize solid waste management activity at different steps

 to intervene in solid waste generating activities at source to reduce them; and

 to prioritize public cleansing activities at the local level.

This policy envisages a two-tier institutional system to execute management activities. This aim
to have a separate institution from central to local level and all stakeholders regarding solid
waste management should be under its organization. The local solid waste management agency
is to act under instructions from the central level agency.