Co-creating an Extended Producer Responsibility framework that supports accountable plastic use and waste management in Nepal.
The Challenge
Nepal is facing a growing plastic waste crisis driven by rapid urbanisation, rising consumption, and increasing tourism in mountainous regions such as Everest and Annapurna. Local governments are responsible for waste management, yet many lack the technical capacity, infrastructure, and resources needed to manage plastic waste effectively.
Remote mountain communities are particularly vulnerable. Waste collection and recycling systems are limited, while fragile ecosystems are increasingly affected by discarded plastic from tourism and consumer goods. Mismanaged waste in upland areas also contributes to riverine plastic leakage, connecting Nepal’s waste challenges to wider regional and global marine pollution.
At the same time, Nepal is working to strengthen its commitments under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions and contribute to global efforts to end plastic polluti2on through a legally binding international plastics treaty.
The Project
GRID-Arendal and DOKO Foundation are co-creating a national Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR, framework for plastic waste management in Nepal. The project will support producers, consumers, and policymakers in developing a shared system of responsibility for plastic throughout its lifecycle.
The initiative will develop a practical national toolkit that includes guidance for EPR implementation and methodologies for calculating EPR fees for plastic packaging. The project will also pilot a Deposit Return Scheme in the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, along the Mount Everest trekking route, to test locally adapted solutions for waste collection and recycling in remote mountain communities.
Main project activities include:
The project is implemented in partnership with DOKO Foundation, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
Our Transformative Approach
This activity goes beyond improving waste management systems. It aims to help shift how plastic is understood and managed in Nepal, from a disposable waste problem to a shared responsibility across producers, consumers, and institutions.
GRID-Arendal’s approach is grounded in co-creation and systems thinking, in line with the organisation’s Strategy 2025–2030, which emphasises transformative responses to environmental change, science-based decision-making, and resilience.
The EPR framework and toolkit are being developed collaboratively with government representatives, plastic packaging stakeholders, experts, and local communities. Through interviews, consultation meetings, and pilot testing, the project supports locally relevant and nationally scalable solutions.
By combining technical assessments with community-based testing, the project seeks to strengthen governance, generate practical evidence, and support long-term behavioural and policy shifts around plastic production, consumption, and recycling.
The pilot Deposit Return Scheme in the Everest region will demonstrate how circular approaches can work even in geographically remote and environmentally sensitive areas. Insights from the pilot will help inform future implementation across Nepal and contribute to broader international discussions on plastic governance and circular economy approaches.
Why It Matters
Plastic pollution threatens ecosystems, biodiversity, climate resilience, and human health. In Nepal’s mountain regions, these pressures are intensified by remoteness, fragile environments, limited infrastructure, and growing tourism.
By strengthening Nepal’s capacity to develop and implement a national EPR framework, this project contributes to reducing plastic leakage, improving recycling systems, and supporting more sustainable consumption patterns. It also supports Nepal’s commitments under international environmental agreements and contributes to the global momentum towards ending plastic pollution.
The project aligns closely with GRID-Arendal’s vision of supporting a healthy and equitable planet through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and transformative environmental governance.
If successful, the initiative can help establish a scalable model for mountain regions and other underserved areas facing similar waste management challenges, while supporting stronger environmental governance, community resilience, and circular economy transitions.
