Legal teeth to bite litterbugs

With the waste prevention and   management regulation 2012 coming into force yesterday, people littering or dumping waste in the wrong places, or urinating or defecating in a public place, will be slapped fines, ranging from Nu 100 to Nu 20,000.

Some of the other offences, according to the regulation, are sale of goods or services on the streets and pedestrian walkways without approval, and dumping waste into the streams, rivers, drainage systems or other water bodies.

Yesterday, around 240 thromde officials and workers went around the capital, disseminating information and  creating awareness about the regulation.

In the evening, a show was also organised at the clock tower to create awareness on the waste prevention and management regulation 2012.

“The fines are reasonable and needed to manage increasing waste,” businessman Sonam Gyelpo, 20, who was at yesterday’s show, said.

But a hotelier said that it might be difficult to catch everyone, who litters, especially those who throw out trash from their cars. “The regulation looks promising, but let’s see after a few months,” he said.

The thromde’s environment officer, Pema Dorji, said that the waste regulation before 2009 had no legal teeth to back it up.

“This time, the acts and provisions are clear. We’re also seeking support from RBP as well,” he said.

There are six regular inspectors and 15 volunteers from the thromde, who will be monitoring and fining offenders in Thimphu city. Anyone, who catches another committing these offences, can report it to the thromde, and claim half the fine as an incentive. “The designing of this incentive mechanism is still undergoing,” he said.

The regulation was endorsed by National Environment Commission on February 13 this year, which is also adopted under section 53 of the Waste Prevention and Management Act, 2009.

Token and fine schedule for implementation of The Waste Prevention and Management Regulation, 2012

Source: Kuensel Newspaper