Turning the tide on plastic waste in Gelephu and Paro

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, UNDP and The Coca-Cola Foundation partner to collect 5,500 tonnes of plastic waste by 2027, while also empowering 600 informal waste workers, driving behavioural change and promoting the circular economy.

November 15, 2025

Two sanitation workers in reflective vests load a white bag into a green garbage truck on a road. — Harka Bdr. Ghalley and Dilli Ram Adhikari, waste handlers of Gelephu municipality doing their daily rounds of waste collection

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

Every morning in Gelephu, as the sun rises over the subtropical plains, Thromde (municipality) waste-collector truck driver Phub Dorji and waste handlers Harka Bdr. Tamang and Dilli Ram Adhikari begin their daily rounds. They face a daunting task: collecting nearly 9.5 metric tonnes of waste that the town produces each day.

Phub Dorji Tamang, Gelephu municipal waste collector truck driver

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

In Paro—home to the country’s only international airport—the challenge is even greater. With its growing population, the valley generates approximately 20 metric tonnes of waste daily.

With support from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP is working with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the municipalities of Gelephu and Paro to address the mounting waste challenge in the two cities. Three new waste collection trucks—two for Paro and one for Gelephu were supported through the project, "Management of Plastics Waste and Circular Interventions on Plastics in South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific". These additions, enhancing the municipalities’ existing fleets, promise more reliable and timely waste collection and a future where plastic is not just discarded, but repurposed for over 21,000 residents combined.

UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus and Gelephu Mayor Tshering Norbu at the signing of the truck handover note

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

“These trucks will help us respond faster and more efficiently to the increasing waste problem as we work towards a plastic-free Gelephu, aligned with the vision of the Gelephu Mindfulness City,” said Tshering Norbu, Thrompon (Mayor) of Gelephu.

People in a conference room; a man in blue raises his arms beside a red tapestry banner. — UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus and Gelephu Mayor Tshering Norbu

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

For Paro town, which welcomes thousands of tourists each year, the stakes are not just environmental but also reputational. “As the main gateway to the country, keeping Paro clean and green is of utmost priority,” said Paro Dzongda (Governor) Norbu Wangchuk.

Photograph of two men in a formal, plant-filled room; one in a suit speaks, other with a laptop. — Paro Dzongda (Governor) Norbu Wangchuk and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Fadhil Bakeer Markar at the truck handing note signing

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

Beyond trucks: a systems approach

The project, "Management of Plastics Waste and Circular Interventions on Plastics in South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific", is aimed at collecting 5,500 tonnes of plastic waste from the two municipalities by October 2027. Three more trucks- two for Gelephu and one for Paro- would be provided early next year through the same project. But as UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus emphasised, the effort is not solely about vehicles. “This partnership approaches the waste challenge from a systems lens to develop lasting solutions,” he said.

A part of a broader regional initiative spanning 10 Asian countries, the project’s focus extends beyond collection to reshaping how communities think about and manage waste. “Adopting the three Rs approach—reduce, reuse and recycle— is essential to turning the tide on plastic waste.

Empowering informal waste workers

Central to the project is empowering Bhutan’s informal waste handlers. Often overlooked, these individuals are the ones who sort, segregate, and recycle discarded plastic. The project will train 600 of them, half of whom are women, in safety, hygiene, and segregation techniques. This investment not only improves livelihoods but also strengthens the backbone of the waste management system.

Building a circular economy

The initiative is also helping incorporate circular economy principles into Bhutan’s waste management system, encouraging public-private partnerships that promote plastic repurposing and recycling, transforming waste into resources rather than landfills. Best environmental practices and technologies are being introduced to reduce plastic pollution, while updated waste inventory data is helping municipalities plan more effectively.