Idea Studio Nepal and Ishizaka Inc. signed an MOU for the “Construction of waste recycling plant” to solve Nepal’s serious waste problem and employment instability.

Idea Studio Nepal (hereinafter referred to as ISN), a Nepal-based company that supports entrepreneurs solving social issues and Ishizaka Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Ishizaka), an intermediate industrial waste treatment company based in Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in April 2024, for the construction of a waste recycling plant in Kathmandu City, Nepal.

This plant will be Ishizaka’s first overseas expansion to realize its vision of “Zero Waste Design”, a society where waste is not left as waste. The plant will be constructed as “Ishizaka Model: Zero Waste Design Waste Recycling Plant”. The two parties plan to establish a joint venture company in 2025 and are currently conducting various studies to explore business possibilities while promoting industry-academia-government collaboration in Nepal.

The background of this MOU highlights the serious waste problem and employment instability in Nepal due to the country’s population growth and poverty issues. The total population of Nepal is approximately 29.16 million (*1). The Kathmandu Metropolitan Area (including Kathmandu, Lalitpur (Patan), and Bhaktapur cities) with a population of 3.025 million (*2). However, illegally dumped waste is scattered in the city due to the lack of landfill sites. The Sisdol landfill, constructed in 2005 outside the Kathmandu Metropolitan Area, produced 202,000 tons of waste in 2021, with an increase of about 65% since the landfill’s operation in 2005 (122,000 tons). In addition, with an increase in annual methane gas emissions from the site, approximately 2,200 tons were emitted in 2021 (*3). An urgent waste management is required.

Under these circumstances, the two parties have signed a contract to develop a waste management system and to construct and operate a recycling plant. In partnership with the government and the private sectors as part of the Kathmandu Waste Management System, this project is expected to promote a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project (*4).

The partnership between ISN and Ishizaka is also expected to create new employment opportunities in the process of waste treatment and management. Starting with the implementation of the Experts Exchange Program (EEP) (*5), a professional exchange program aimed to develop highly skilled technical personnel, both parties will collaborate with each other to address the problems of both Japan and Nepal; namely, facing a serious shortage of young human resources and employment instability, respectively.

In May of next year, six highly skilled engineers who studied mechanical engineering and civil engineering at Tribhuvan University (*6) and other universities will join Ishizaka, in cooperation with educational institutions in Nepal that focus on young human resources. They are expected to work at the recycling plant while acquiring knowledge and skills. In the future, they are anticipated to work as instructors and leaders at Ishizaka or at “Ishizaka Model: Zero Waste Design Waste Recycling Plant” after returning to their home country.

Ishizaka, which has been achieving industry-leading waste reduction and recycling rates, especially for construction waste, will continue to contribute and take on the challenge of solving global social and environmental issues. By working with influential local partners and the people of Nepal, who love its beautiful nature, Ishizaka aims not only to accelerate resource recycling and regional economic cycles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also create new jobs, promote environmental education, and develop highly skilled technical human resources.

[Idea Studio Nepal]
Idea Studio Nepal is a non-profit organization headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal, that provides opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to work, learn, and invest in their business ideas. Its core value is to promote social innovation by providing support from concept launch to venture launch. It works in close partnership with the Nepalese government, academia, public and private sectors, and many other institutions, and by working with each other based on the principles of a multi-stakeholder approach, it creates an environment for building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
https://ideastudio.org.np/

【Dr. Tshering Lama】
Dr. Lama graduated from Northumbria University, UK, with BSc in Health Development Studies, MSc in Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Telemedicine. He is the executive chairperson and co-founder of Idea Studio Nepal (ISN) and a strong believer in finding innovative ways to change the lives of young people, helping entrepreneurs address social issues. He also leads the Leadx Nepal a leadership training and development company also advising on governance and development to both public and private institutions. Recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, he has received numerous awards for his contributions to public health and education.

*1) National Statistic Office, National Population and Housing Census 2021 (National Report), (Nepal, 2021), p.1

*2) National Statistic Office, National Population and Housing Census 2021 (National Report), (Nepal, 2021), p.59 Table 14
https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/result-folder/National%20Report_English.pdf

*3) Proceedings of 10th IOE Graduate Conference, Estimating Methane Gas Generation from Landfill Site – A Case Study of Sisdol Landfill Site, Nuwakot Nepal, (Nepal, Tribhuvan University, 2021, October), pp.643-644, Table 5, 6
https://conference.ioe.edu.np/ioegc10/papers/ioegc-10-082-10113.pdf

*4) The World Bank, PPP Laws/Concessions Laws – Nepal, The Public-Private Partnership Resource Center
https://ppp.worldbank.org/public-private-partnership/legislation-regulation/laws/ppp-and-concession-laws
※PPP：A mechanism to make the government-led development and operation of public infrastructure and services, more efficient and of higher quality through the cooperation of private companies.
https://ppp.worldbank.org/public-private-partnership/applicable-all-sectors/about-public-private-partnerships

*5) EEP (Experts Exchange Program): A professional exchange program to acquire knowledge and skills through an internship program at Ishizaka Inc.

*6) Tribhuvan University: Established in 1959 as Nepal’s first national university, Tribhuvan University consists of five institutes and four faculties under which it operates 40 major disciplines, 62 affiliated campuses and 1062 affiliated colleges in various disciplines. It is the largest university in Nepal with a current enrollment of about 480,000 students.
https://tu.edu.np/pages/about-us-2