Littering in public places could attract fines of up to Rs 15,000

Kathmandu, September 17

People who throw waste indiscriminately in public places could face fines of up to Rs 15,000 under a bill registered in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal registered the Bill to Amend and Consolidate Laws Relating to Waste Management, which proposes fines for littering and several other violations related to waste management.

Section 13 of the proposed bill defines it as a citizen’s responsibility to dispose of waste only in designated dustbins while travelling through or visiting public places.

“Any person travelling through or visiting a public place shall place any waste generated or discarded during their visit or movement in the nearest dustbin,” the bill states.

The bill also requires local governments to install covered dustbins at public roads, gardens, parks, exhibition venues, public transport areas and vehicle parking locations within their jurisdictions, as necessary.

The dustbins would have to allow separate collection of biodegradable, non-biodegradable and hazardous waste.

If the required dustbins have not been installed when the law comes into effect, local governments would have three months to install them.

People using public places would then be required to dispose of their waste in these designated dustbins. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to Rs 15,000.

The bill proposes a fine of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 for vehicles that remain parked at designated locations during road cleaning or waste collection, or when the driver refuses to move the vehicle.

Those who break, damage, remove or otherwise cause damage to public dustbins could be fined Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000, in addition to being required to cover the cost of managing or replacing the dustbin.

Similarly, throwing harmful substances into dustbins or designated waste collection areas could attract a fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000, along with compensation if damage is caused.

The proposed bill also sets escalating fines for dumping household or compound waste on roads or in public places, burying or burning such waste.

A first offence would attract a fine of up to Rs 5,000, a second offence a fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, and a third or subsequent offence a fine of Rs 15,000. Offenders would also have to bear the cost of removing the waste.

A fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 is proposed for activities that cause leachate or sewage generated from waste to pollute another person’s house or land or obstruct public movement.

The bill proposes fines of Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 for disposing of hazardous waste at locations other than those designated by local governments.

Those who dispose of chemical, industrial, mercury-containing, health-related, electronic or construction-related hazardous waste outside designated areas could face fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000.

The proposed legislation also includes penalties for failing to remove posters, pamphlets, leaflets, wall writings or flags placed in public places. Such violations could attract a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 200,000.

A fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 is proposed for placing or dumping dead or slaughtered animals, manure, feathers, bones, fish scales and similar waste in public places.

The provisions will come into force only after the bill is passed by both houses of the Federal Parliament and authenticated by the President.

Once enacted, the proposed fines and other waste management requirements will become legally enforceable.

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