The Bote community has traditionally relied on fishing and paddling boats for their livelihood and has long depended on the rivers. The Bote community of Patihani faced a significant challenge with the decline in fishing activities in the Rapti River. The declaration of Chitwan National Park imposed seasonal restrictions on fishing in the Rapti River during breeding seasons. Additionally, urbanization and river pollution further contributed to the decline in fish population, threatening the community’s way of life.  

In response to these challenges, the CAP project introduced an innovative idea: empowering the Bote community to collect plastic waste from rivers and generate alternative income by selling the collected plastics for recycling. The aim was to connect the community to the broader plastic recycling network, providing an alternative source of income generation for the community while addressing environmental problems mainly because of plastic waste. 

The proximity of the Bote community to the thriving tourism sector sparked an innovative idea during the project: creating a “Waste Smart Village”.  The approach went beyond connecting the community to the recycling markets; it integrated local hotels and resorts into the waste management network.  Recognizing that these establishments were a major source of plastic waste, the project sought to create a symbiotic relationship between the community and the hospitality sector. 

As part of the initiative, PET bottle collection nets were distributed to the Bote community. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the community and hotels to establish local collaboration. The hotels agreed to store used bottles and provide them to the community, who would then sell them to the recycling center. In return, participating hotels received collection nets and, upon effective contribution, they would be awarded a “Waste Smart Certificate” in recognition of their efforts for the environment and the community. 

The initiative's success was gradual but transformative. Initially, only a few members of the Bote community were willing to use the nets to collect PET bottles, others remained skeptical about the concept of earning money by collecting waste. However, as the early adopters began selling the collected waste and started generating income, the attitudes started shifting and more community members expressed interest in participating in the waste collection efforts. Today, nearly every household in the community is eager to use the collection nets, recognizing the economic potential of the initiative. 

The project’s impact extended beyond the Bote community. Hotels and resorts that observed the success of the collection nets in neighboring establishments began inquiring about including them in the waste management network. Many have since expressed eagerness to sign MOUs and have requested nets to collect PET waste generated in their properties. The growing demand has highlighted the success of this initiative, empowering the Bote community with a sustainable livelihood opportunity and fostering environmental responsibility among local businesses. 

-Samin Poudel
MERL Officer