Rajani Shrestha and Sulav Moktan, a dynamic couple duo left their lucrative jobs to join the family business – ‘Waste Concern’ that was founded by Sulav Moktan’s father; Mr. Man Dhoj Moktan in 1993. Waste Concern is a pioneer in commercial waste management in Nepal and through its robust waste collection services, the company aims to combat unsystematic waste management in Kathmandu at low costs.

Waste Concern operates in Koteshwor, Kathmandu and currently has around 35 staff. One of the main reasons behind the duo joining Waste Concern was to negate the age-long concept of waste collection service as a less dignified job. The couple believes that this is an essential service without which the hygiene and health of all the household is in jeopardy. They set to revamp the business, adopted innovative ideas for segregation of waste, collaborated with ‘Clean Up Nepal’, and launched their very own subscriber management system where the customers can receive notifications of waste collection schedules.

During the pandemic, the Government categorized waste collection services as an essential service which allowed Waste Concern to continue its operations during the lockdown. Even while the cashflows were uncertain, Waste Concern continued to provide its services and went an extra mile by providing PPE suits and COVID-19 Insurance coverage to all its employees.

Waste Concern is one of the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 MSME Fund, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - SDC and FMO - Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and managed by One to Watch. Through this fund, Waste Concern was successful in receiving an interest-free and collateral-free loan from Laxmi Bank which was mainly utilized for short-term working capital needs and to purchase a new garbage truck. OTW will also support Waste Concern by revamping their marketing and branding strategy and to explore potential collaboration with other similar entities for segregation of waste among other tailored interventions.