Pokhara, 4 August । The two-day Recycling and Upcycling (RU) Fest successfully concluded in Pokhara on Saturday, drawing an estimated 5,000 visitors. Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Bhagawati Neupane visited the event on its final day and praised the initiative for creating green jobs while simultaneously addressing waste management. She commented that the festival serves as a commendable model for other cities across Nepal, demonstrating how waste can be transformed into valuable resources and livelihood opportunities.
The festival was organized under the Green Jobs Creation through Recycling and Upcycling (GCRU) project, a joint initiative of the Pokhara Metropolitan City with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event showcased a wide array of innovative products made from recycled and upcycled materials such as plastic, glass, and clothes. Visitors also had the opportunity to witness live demonstrations of waste-to-product transformation technologies.
On the final day, the fest featured a dialogue on the theme of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility in the Green Circular Economy,’ bringing together representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, environmentalists, and entrepreneurs. Experts also gave presentations on new technologies, including converting low-quality plastic into household goods, using recycled plastic as a substitute for wood, and utilizing old plastic for road paving. The festival aimed to raise awareness about the sustainability of recycling and upcycling industries. Pokhara’s Mayor, Dhanraj Acharya, stated that the project, which is constructing a Green Venture Zone center with $9.8 million from KOICA and $0.87 million from UNDP, aims to create 3,000 jobs over the next two years.
