Clean water for Nepal
Waste water from dyeing factories is directly discharged into farmland – it should now be stopped.
Mrs Shresta from Baudha Dyeing signs an agreement concerning the construction of the waste water treatment plant.
The construction is nearly finished, soon it is going into operation.
Nearly all wool dyeing factories in Nepal discharge their wastewater directly into the river, farmland or public drainage system without any prior treatment. The wastewater results in a considerable damage to the environment of Kathmandu and its surrounding area. A project supported by Label STEP partners with two dyeing units who have moved out of the city centre in installing wastewater treatment plants.
Since 2006, a group of twelve dyeing companies from the densely populated city centre of Kathmandu had planned to move their operations to Mulpani region in the rural outskirts and build a common wastewater treatment plant. After initial funding plans by various international organisations did not develop, Label STEP was approached and after visiting the site decided to support the project financially and by providing know how.
Label STEP then discussed with the dyeing companies, conducted studies and consulted wastewater treatment experts. In the meantime the first two dyeing companies successfully moved their operations to the new industrial area in Mulpani and decided to set up wastewater treatment plants. Both these companies – Baudha Dyeing and Rajan Dyeing – are in the supply chain of a number of Label STEP license holders and can now respond to their commitment to an environmentally friendly carpet production.
Label STEP recognizes Baudha Dyeing and Rajan Dyeing’s ecological commitment and thus agreed to support these companies in setting up treatment plants at each of their locations. Because both companies use AZO free and metal free dyes, the complexity and costs of the treatment plants are kept within reasonable limits. In accordance with Label STEP’s philosophy of Corporate Social Responsibility an agreement was signed with both companies and Label STEP pledging to bear 50 per cent of the set-up costs.
The experience made during the construction, maintenance and operation of the treatment plant shall be shared with future dyeing companies interested in setting up treatment plants. In the near future, 6 more dyeing companies intend to move to Mulpani. Label STEP considers to support them as well, provided that they: are incorporated in the supply chain of a Label STEP licence holder; use AZO- and metal free dyes; are willing to bear the half of the construction cost and the total of the maintenance costs; and allow Label STEP to monitor their units.
Lapel STEP appeals to all dealers, importers and designers who produce their carpets in Nepal to assume their responsibility towards the environment and work with eco-friendly companies like Baudha Dyeing and Rajan Dyeing or persuade established dyeing companies to build their own wastewater treatment plants.
