FAQs

1. What is the overall function of the Waste Management Division?
Coordinate and oversee the implementation of the Waste Prevention and Management Act, 2009, Waste Prevention and Management Regulation, 2012 and the National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy, 2014, National Waste Management Strategy, 2019. Establish framework/coordination mechanism for effective functioning and coordination among Implementing and Collaborating Agencies
2. What are the national legislations concerning waste management in the country?
Waste Prevention and Management Act, 2009; 
Waste Prevention and Management Regulation, 2012 and its amendment 2016;

3. What are the waste management strategies formulated till date?
National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy, 2014;
National Waste Management Strategy, 2019.


4. Is there any data available on waste?
Yes, Nation’s Waste on the Scale: National Waste Inventory Survey (NWIS-2019), Bhutan
5. What is the Polluter Pays Principle?
A person polluting the environment or causing ecological harm shall be responsible for the costs of avoidance, containment, abatement, medical compensation, mitigation, remediation and restoration.
6. What is the Principle of 3Rs and Waste Minimization Hierarchy?
All persons shall in line with the concept of 3Rs:
a)  Avoid, eliminate, or substitute the use of products or unnecessary packaging that generate waste.
b)  Reduce the generation of waste from the manufacture and use of products.
c)  Reuse products and packaging materials.
d)  Recycle material from waste for production of new and useful products.
e)  Recover material from waste for energy production and other uses.
f)  Treat and dispose of waste to reduce and eliminate harms to the environment.
g)  Treat and dispose of waste to avoid harm to human health.
7. What are the different categories of waste?
1. Municipal Waste;
2. Industrial Waste; 
3. E-Waste; and 
4. Medical waste
8. What is the responsibility of the general public in waste management?
All persons shall fulfill their civic responsibility and good ethics in waste management
9. Duty to Report?
A person shall report to the nearest local authority or the Royal Bhutan Police when he has the knowledge of any person releasing any nature of waste into the environment in a manner other than the prescribed procedures
10. What are the incentives and financing mechanisms to waste handlers?
Any licensed person engaged in the activities of waste collection, recycling, reuse or value addition to the waste may be provided with the following incentives in conformity with relevant laws
1. Exemption from Bhutan Sales Tax, Income Tax and custom duties for a period of 20 years from the date of awarding the license to operate;
2. provision of land by the Department of Industry or other government agencies at a lease rate equivalent to 10% of the existing lease rate if permissible under Land Act; and
3. exemption from license fee and any other fees imposed by the Department of Industry or any other government organization.
11. Which are the lead implementing agencies in waste management?
a) The Ministry for Works and Human Settlements and City Corporations for ensuring waste prevention and management in the Thromdes.
b) The Dzongkhag Tshogdu and Gewog Tshogde supported by the Dzongkhag, Dungkhag and Gewog administration for ensuring waste prevention and management at Dzongkhag, Dungkhag Gewog and Chiwog level not covered under (a) including the management of rural human waste with guidance from the Ministry of Health.
12. What is Zero Waste Hour?
Launched by Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen on June 2, 2019 coinciding with the Coronation Day of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, as a part of “My waste, my responsibility”, the program intends to change the mindset of the general public to take responsibility for waste and inculcate civic responsibility by observing an hour long cleaning campaign on the second day of every month. The Zero Waste Hour encourages offices, institutions to clean their surrounding areas, making it a litter-free environment. The programme is one of the strategies to achieve Zero Waste Society by 2030.
13. What is the Waste Management Flagship Program?
The Waste Management flagship program intends to provide an end to end intervention for waste management in the country through multi-pronged approaches. The Overall goal is to achieve Zero Waste Bhutan whereby the current trend of disposing over 80 percent to the landfill is reversed to less than 20 percent by the year 2030.
14. Do the Waste Management Division provide fund support to waste entrepreneurs?
The Waste Management Division does not provide any fund support to any waste entrepreneurs. However, the WMD will assist in facilitating incentives and financing mechanisms to waste handlers as reflected under question 10.