Avni has created a robust network for the collection of post-consumer PET and Aluminium packaging by means of the biggest formal network of waste workers and entrepreneurs. Once the segregated PET and Aluminium from the households and institutions reaches the PET Baling Centers run by Avni Ventures, waste workers (mostly female) further sort the bottles and they are compressed and sold to recycling companies inside Nepal at fair price through legal supply chains for further recycling.

Avni provides waste reduction, collection and management services to corporates and businesses in Nepal to help them move towards a Zero Waste Corporate. The major partners of Avni in this initiative include Coca-Cola Bottlers Nepal, Bajeko Sekuwa, NepalHouse Restaurant, etc.

Multilayer Plastic Packaging like metallic wrappers of noodles and different other food products, tetrapack, etc are not recyclable inside Nepal currently. Avni Ventures, along with its multiple partners, is creating sustainable, alternative end uses for these multilayer plastic packaging to be used into bricks, plastic roads, etc.

To promote sustainable lifestyles and reduce waste, Avni has been carrying out second-hand collection drives in urban centre’s of Nepal including Kathmandu and Pokhara that makes clothes circular in the following order:

• Reuse of good-quality clothes.
• Upcycling of fabrics into bags and other functional items.
• Recycling of the worn-out clothes into fibers and household items.

Avni aims to establish zero-waste municipalities and cities through community participation in source segregation and 3R practices, starting from Budhanilkantha and Baglung Municipalities. Avni is also providing business support to local governments to develop a sustainable waste value chain for the recyclables waste generated in their area in an environmentally and financially sustainable way by connecting the waste to the market.

Avni has partnered with Nepal Army and different Local Government partners to carry out a clean-up campaign in six mountains of Nepal viz., Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Pumori and Mt. Dhaulagiri. Avni Ventures is the official recycling partner of the initiative, which is managing the 28 tons of waste collected from these mountains.

Despite the Entrepreneurs and workers in the waste sector providing a crucial green service to the society and the environment, they are rarely treated with respect and dignity. Absence of formal channels in this sector has led to exploitation of the most vulnerable in all stages of the value chain. Avni Ventures aims to formalize this informal sector creating a vast network of waste entrepreneurs and all associated stakeholders.

Avni has helped set up and incubate Green businesses at every level of the value chain, including a centre run entirely by women in Budhanilkantha Municipality. Avni supports waste entrepreneurs and waste workers involved in the waste value chain to increase their capacity to manage waste. Avni provides working capital support, technical and business incubation assistance, and growth support to these businesses. It also connects the businesses with responsible buyers, creating green jobs for the most marginalized groups in this sector.

Avni Ventures, has empowered waste workers, helped uplift their livelihoods, by providing fair and consistent income sources, personal protective equipment, insurance, Vaccinations, better housing, and safer workplaces with all required basic amenities like healthy food, access to water and toilets.

With a team of experts, Avni Ventures is also providing policy advocacy on Green Bonds, to support local and national green climate initiatives. Absence of regulation, formal economic support and social safety net in this sector has left the people in this sector most vulnerable to the dangerous working conditions and accidents.

It also advocates to households and consumers to increase the recognition and social status of waste workers and entrepreneurs. It is also advocating with Financial institutions for financial inclusion of the waste sector in the formal banking channels.