Plastic waste co-processing in Nepal’s cement sector

About the workshop

We are collaborating with GIZ Nepal convening this one-day multi-stakeholder workshop under the National Air Quality Management Action Plan (NAQMAP) framework. The workshop will draw lessons from India, assess Nepal’s readiness, and identify policy pathways, technical requirements, and collaboration mechanisms for scaling plastic waste co-processing in Nepal’s cement industry.

The event will convene representatives from government institutions, cement industries, municipalities, academia, civil society, and development partners to discuss current waste management practices, industrial energy use, and emerging opportunities for co-processing. Through knowledge sharing and multi-stakeholder dialogue, the workshop seeks to identify policy pathways, technical solutions, and collaboration mechanisms that support sustainable waste management, low-emission industrial development, and cleaner air in Nepal.

Objectives

The workshop aims to:

• Assess the current status of plastic waste management in Nepal, including existing policies, regulations, and gaps.
• Facilitate dialogue among industries, municipalities, and government agencies on technical and policy pathways for co-processing.
• Share regional and local experiences on co-processing, energy recovery, and best practices, particularly lessons from India to identify enabling conditions for Nepal.

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced understanding of Nepal’s plastic waste dynamics, cement-sector energy use, and the potential for plastic waste co-processing.
• Identification of opportunities and priority next steps for implementing plastic waste co-processing in selected cement plants in Nepal.

Why this matters?

Nepal’s coal-fired, limestone-based cement industry about 20–25 plants with a production capacity of 15–25 million tonnes annually is among the country’s most energy-intensive sectors. It relies on coal for nearly 90% of its thermal energy needs, increasing production costs while contributing significantly to air pollution and national greenhouse gas emissions.

At the same time, Nepal generates around 4,900 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day, of which approximately 16% is plastic. Much of this plastic waste is single-use, poorly segregated, and frequently burned or dumped, leading to toxic emissions and increasing pressure on landfills. As a result, effective and sustainable plastic waste management has become an urgent national priority.

Globally, cement kiln co-processing has emerged as a proven solution for managing non-recyclable plastic waste while reducing fossil fuel consumption. Countries such as India have successfully integrated plastic waste into cement production through enabling regulatory frameworks, robust supply chains, and public–private partnerships. This approach allows for complete thermal destruction of waste, substitution of 20–30% of coal, and emissions reduction without compromising clinker quality.

For Nepal, plastic waste co-processing presents a dual opportunity: diverting plastic waste away from open burning and landfills while reducing coal dependency in the cement sector. While early initiatives such as Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) production by Green Road Nepal show promise, challenges persist related to waste segregation, logistics, quality standards, and institutional coordination.

The workshop seeks to explore the feasibility, readiness and policy support for integrating plastic waste as an alternative fuel in cement kilns.