Plastic industry ready to open recycling plant

KATHMANDU, SEP 25 -

Nepali plastic entrepreneurs have said that they are ready to open a recycling plant if a system can be set up to collect used plastic products.

They added that there was immense potential for a recycling industry in Nepal, but lack of proper collection has made things complicated. Plastic litter is one of the major environmental problems in the Kathmandu valley.

The Nepal Plastic Manufactur-ers’ Association (NPMA) and Esskay have scheduled a seminar for Tuesday to discuss ways and means to recycle plastic waste. The seminar is entitled “Showcase of Plastic and Growth of its Industries”.

NPMA president Shailendra Lal Pradhan said the conference would discuss proper disposal of plastic and its products and problems being faced by entrepreneurs. In addition, an exhibition of plastic goods produced in the country will be held, said the association.

Plastic entrepreneurs claim that Nepal is self-sufficient in HD pipes, bags, PET bottles and packing materials made of plastic. The country has been exporting PET bottles and plastic furniture to India, Bhutan and Pakistan.

According to the association, the market has been expanding at the rate of a mere 5 percent annually despite the growing business of plastic products. “Government apathy is to blame for the situation,” said entrepreneurs.

Pradhan complained that the industry was suffering from a high import duty on raw materials and lack of a collection system for used plastic products for recycling.

Source: The Kathmandu Post