Waste Worker Capacity Building for Clean Rivers, Occupational Safety and Industrial DRR
Project Overview
Climate Action Nepal is strengthening the skills, safety and dignity of informal waste workers who play a critical role in keeping communities and river systems clean. The ongoing initiative connects river-focused waste recovery with occupational health and safety, flood-risk awareness, first aid, emergency response and environmentally responsible waste management.
Why This Project Matters
Informal waste workers frequently handle mixed, sharp, contaminated and hazardous materials with limited protective equipment, recognition or access to safety information. Waste leakage into rivers also increases water pollution, blocks drainage, heightens flood risks and transfers plastics into wider freshwater ecosystems.
What the Project Is Doing
- Delivering practical capacity-building on river-focused waste collection, segregation and recovery.
- Demonstrating safe handling of plastics, sharp materials and potentially hazardous waste from riverbanks.
- Linking clean-up activities with product value chains so recoverable materials are diverted from waterways.
- Providing orientation on flood hazards, water pollution, first aid, emergency response and industrial DRR.
- Promoting workplace dignity, gender inclusion, SEAH awareness and consistent use of personal protective equipment.
- Strengthening coordination among waste workers, communities, municipalities and recycling facilities.
Expected Results and Ongoing Contribution
- Cleaner river corridors and reduced leakage of plastics and solid waste into waterways.
- Safer working practices and reduced exposure to occupational hazards among informal waste workers.
- Greater recognition of women and marginalized workers as essential actors in the circular economy.
- Improved community understanding of the links among waste management, flooding, public health and climate resilience.
- Stronger local ownership of sustainable river protection and waste recovery systems.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Focus
- Number and diversity of waste workers participating in training.
- Number of safety, DRR and awareness sessions delivered.
- Use of PPE and safe segregation practices during field activities.
- Volume and type of waste recovered and directed to appropriate processing.
- Evidence of coordination with municipalities, communities and material recovery facilities.
Long-term Value
By treating waste workers as environmental professionals and frontline resilience actors, the project advances cleaner rivers, safer livelihoods and more inclusive circular-economy systems at the same time.