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For years, travellers along the East-West Highway at Chaukidanda in Kailali were greeted by the stench of burning and dumped municipal waste. That smell has faded over the past four months, replaced by a quieter change unfolding nearby in Godawari Municipality.
An integrated solid waste management and faecal sludge treatment plant has begun turning garbage — and even human waste — into compost, recyclables and municipal revenue. Built on nearly five hectares at a cost of Rs564 million, the facility is now fully operational and processing about 14.5 tonnes of waste a day.
According to project in-charge Hem Prasad Acharya, the plant produces around 2.5 tonnes of compost daily, with plans to double output. Recyclable materials such as plastics, glass, metal, books and cardboard — about seven tonnes a day — are also sorted and sold.
What makes the project stand out is its faecal sludge treatment system. Human waste collected from septic tanks is stored, dried and processed before being mixed with compost from biodegradable waste. The final fertiliser, sold at Rs20 per kg, is currently used by nurseries and rooftop gardeners.
Acharya says wider use would require government support. “Nepal imports chemical fertiliser worth billions every year,” he says. “Organic compost improves soil health and reduces environmental damage, but farmers need incentives to switch.”
The issue is especially relevant in the Tarai plains, where fertiliser shortages are common and farmers often rely on costly imports from across the Indian border. Studies have shown that fertilisers made from treated human waste can improve soil quality while maintaining crop yields.
The plant has also created a steady income stream for the municipality. Households pay Rs250 per month in urban areas and Rs100 in villages for sludge collection, generating about Rs800,000 monthly.
Mayor Birendra Bhatta admits local resistance was strong at first. Residents feared foul smells and health risks. “We promised jobs, insurance and strict environmental safeguards,” he says. “Once people saw the results, attitudes changed.”
Waste burning has largely stopped, and collection has improved. At Attariya Bus Park, shopkeeper Bhagiratha Bhatta says she now uses municipal containers instead of dumping waste in the forest. Schools, including Sudhurpaschim Province’s largest secondary school, report similar relief.
Encouraged by Godawari’s experience, a larger integrated waste treatment plant is under construction in Dhangadhi, expected to handle more than 56 tonnes of waste daily. Though challenges like waste segregation remain, officials say the project could further reduce pollution and improve public health.