Kathmandu, April 14 -- A Nepali company has tried to address the growing problem of plastic pollution in Nepal by manufacturing biodegradable plastic products.

The Nepal government has tried and failed several times to impose a ban on single-use plastic, and the throwaway items have clogged drains and rivers across the country. Many of these take more than 500 years to decompose in dumping sites.

Now, Kathmandu-based Jain Trading Concern is introducing plastic bags and other items that degrade within three months of disposal. Although this does not reduce the use of plastic, environmentalists say it is a first step in reducing the amount of garbage on landfill sites, dumping sites and rivers.

Biodegradable plastic bags, garbage bags, s...