Embarking on a transformative journey, I had the incredible opportunity to explore various countries, courtesy of the prestigious grant...

Kathmanduisacityrenownedforitsculturalsplendorandbreathtakingnaturalsurroundings.Despiteits vibrantstreetsandancienttemples,anescalatingthreatloomsoverthecity’sbeautyandenvironmental health—theescalatingcrisisofplasticwaste. Kathmandu,likemanyotherurbancenters,isgrapplingwiththerepercussionsofexcessiveplastic consumption.TheoncepristineBagmatiRiver,whichflowsthroughthevalley,nowbearswitnesstothe city’sstrugglewithplasticpollution.Thesituationhasreachedatippingpoint,demandingurgent attentionandconcertedeffortsfromboththegovernmentandthecommunity. OneoftheprimaryculpritsbehindKathmandu’splasticpredicamentistheubiquitoussingle-useplastic. Fromwaterbottlestofoodpackaging,thecityisinundatedwithdisposableplasticsthatfindtheirway intolandfillsandwaterbodies.Despitethegovernment’seffortstobancertaintypesofsingle-use plastics,implementationremainsachallenge. Thelackofacomprehensivewastemanagementsystemfurtherexacerbatestheissue.Manyareasin Kathmandulackproperwastecollectioninfrastructure,leadingtohaphazarddisposalpractices.Asa result,plasticwasteoftenlittersthestreets,clogsdrains,andposesathreattothecity’soverallhygiene. Totacklethiscrisis,grassrootsinitiativeshaveemerged,drivenbyenvironmentallyconsciousindividuals andorganizations.Community-ledclean-updrivesaimtoraiseawarenessaboutthedetrimentaleffects ofplasticpollutionandencourageresponsiblewastedisposalpractices.Theseinitiativesnotonly addresstheimmediateissueofwastebutalsofosterasenseofenvironmentalstewardshipin Kathmandu....