I am always horrified by the sheer scale of discarded plastic in Nepal, especially plastic water bottles. It is hard to understand the contradiction of how someone can speak so passionately about Nepal’s beauty, yet think nothing of throwing an empty bottle out of a bus window?

Plastic pollution is now a major threat in Nepal, at both micro and macro levels. It is harming wildlife, damaging ecosystems, and ultimately harming us too.

This excellent article, published today in The Rising Nepal, highlights the impact of plastic pollution through the suffering of one unfortunate bird:

Happily, this Black-crowned Night Heron was soon back to its normal fish-catching activity, but there does need to be a concerted effort to get the message across to the general public and especially to the younger generation that has so recently demonstrated how keen – and capable – it is to change Nepal for the better.

For our part, Pipal Tree and Mithila Wildlife Trust are looking at ways to recycle plastic waste at scale, to complement our plans to dispose of sewage safely and constructively. Our environmental impact is not confined to planting trees. More on these broader plans very soon!