The Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) has been awarded a Regional Competitive Block Grant (RBG) to implement sustainable solutions for tackling plastic waste and river pollution in Bhutan.

Their project, “Reimagining Effective Partnerships for Tackling Plastic Waste and River Pollution,” aims to engender riverscape conservation and plastic waste management within targeted communities, implement contemporary innovations that reduce riverscape pollution and environmental degradation, achieve a marked reduction in plastic pollution levels by initiating and extending partnerships and collaborations, and expand waste management expertise in Bhutan.

BES is a not-for-profit organisation that connects education, science, praxis, business, and policy with the goal of sustaining resilient communities and functional landscapes while nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders. They deliver cutting-edge field-based environmental education in partnership with the Royal University of Bhutan and the School for Field Studies in the US.
Visit Bhutan Ecological Society for more information.

Total budget

$ 1.04 Million

Objectives/ Key outcomes

• Outcome 1: Engender riverscape conservation & plastic waste management within targeted communities.
• Outcome 2: Implement contemporary innovations that reduce riverscape pollution and environmental degradation.
• Outcome 3: Achieve a marked reduction in plastic pollution levels by
• initiating/extending partnerships and collaborations.
• Outcome 4: Expand the waste management expertise in Bhutan.
• Outcome 4: Expand the waste management expertise in Bhutan.

Key activities

• Establish 14 plastic waste collection centres in 8 target areas
• Plastic waste management and segregation at Household level
• Establish Recycling Hub to produce UR (useful recycle) Bricks for semi permanent & temporary shelters, toilets and WASH facilities, & pellets, as part of upscaling plastic waste in a circular economy.
• Waste interceptors along 14 streams joining the Wangchhu river