August 19: To find a way to tackle the growing problem of waste disposal, a National Conference on the Solid Waste Management is being convened in the capital. This is the first such meeting.


Participants from 80 different agencies including environmental officers, district engineers, and municipal engineers from across the country are attending the conference.

Opening the conference the Finance Minster Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu highlighted the adverse impact of waste disposal like open dumping and burning of waste on the environment and human health.

The Works and Human Settlement Minister Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said solid waste management is a major problem in urban areas.

The Deputy Executive Engineer of the Department of Urban Development and Engineer Services (DUDES), Sherub Phuntsho said the conference will review the current solid waste management system in urban centres.

Cabinet ministers, the National Council Chairperson, Rabdey representatives, parliament members and senior officials who attended the opening were also informed about the recent nationwide study on solid waste management.

The study carried out from November 2007 to January 2008 covered 10 urban towns of Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Samtse, Paro, Gelephu, Damphu, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bumthang, Trashigang and Monggar.

Findings of the survey revealed that organic waste was the most common form of waste produced in many of the towns.

The survey which covered over 11,000 households also found that a household comprising of four to five members produced about one kilogram of waste per day. The survey also covered over 2,300 commercial establishments. It found that each commercial establishment produces more than three kilograms of waste per day.

The survey was carried out by the DUDES. The Deputy Executive Engineer of the DUDES, Sherab Phuntsho said lack of recycling industries is also adding to the problem. Financial and manpower constraints have also been pointed as other draw backs.