1. Project Description

Nepal lacks proper waste management systems and recycling plants. A majority of all the waste products produced in Nepalese households and businesses end up either in the same landfills or in the rivers across the country without proper treatment. Moreover, according to the Waste Management Baseline Survey of Nepal 2020, conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the amount of waste recycled is an average of 4.1 percent of the total waste produced. Inadvertently, used cooking oil is one of the wastes that is discharged from each household into the sewer. Oil is very difficult to decompose naturally by microorganisms in the water due to its chemical properties. The biological oxygen demand (BOD) of waste oil exceeds 1 million ppm, putting a lot of pressure on the environment. Based on the belief that small actions can make a big difference in environmental conservation, we started to find a way to solve the problem. Recycling the waste cooking oil into soaps is the solution that we have come up with to manage the waste and minimize human impact on the Earth. The production of soaps from used cooking oil is still a new and emerging topic and has not been used to its full potential. With this project, we plan to protect our environment and empower women in the process.   

We plan to give soap-making training to women as well as environmental education classes focusing on the reduction of household waste. At the end of the training sessions, we will also conduct a campaign where we share the soap made during the education and pamphlets on the importance of environmental protection. We believe that soap-making from the used cooking oil that would’ve otherwise made its way down the drainage pipes and ended up in the water bodies is a good initiative that can help reduce oil waste. The soap-making process is not as strenuous and can yield good results without the use of many extensive materials and tools. It also does not require expensive materials to make, making it ideal for a small startup business making and selling soaps or just as an individual household waste management. The soaps produced from this process can be used to wash dishes and clothes.   

2.  Project Progress up to now

The project was divided into three batches of soapmaking/environmental education training and one campaign. We successfully conducted the first batch of training where we provided soapmaking training and environmental awareness education to 22 women and girls. The first batch of training was conducted in the Lalitpur district in early June. The training consisted of two days of soap-making classes where the participants were taught the science behind soap-making from oil, the process and the shaping of soaps. On the remaining day, environment awareness education was provided where participants were taught about the fragility of our environment and the importance of its protection. The use of compost bins to decompose food wastes and make natural fertilizer from them was also taught and practically demonstrated in the class. A total of 200 soaps were made during the training. Participants are now aware of the state of our environment and what can and should be done to protect it from further harm.  

  3. Project Plan Forward

Our team is currently in the trainee recruitment process for the upcoming batches of training and are looking into the contents and design of educational handouts regarding environmental protection for the campaign. During the first training, we did not realize the need for certain tools and equipment required to make the training easier. The soaps did not end up looking uniform in weight and shape due to the lack of weighing scales and moulds. Although the soaps worked perfectly fine, the visual outcome was not as appealing. However, this time around, we will be purchasing essential tools to make the training run smoother. Since it was the first attempt for our organization and team to conduct such an environmental project, we felt as if we were a bit lacking in the management of the training and area. However, with the experiences of the first batch of training, we are now better prepared for the future ones.  

We will be conducting the remaining two batches of training in August and September and the campaign is scheduled to be held in October. With our project, we hope to spread a culture of resource recycling practice for environmental protection as well as increase awareness of the need for environmental protection and encourage individual action for environmental protection in the general public. We expect to bring about changes in the social system beyond individual practice.   

4. Photos