The objective of this paper is to describe the current diverse and complex waste chains and loops in the Kathmandu Valley with a focus on three sites: (1) the generation, collection, and recycling of waste in the municipality of Kirtipur, where the private sector is also actively engaged; (2) the sorting and recycling at the transfer station in Teku (Ward no. 12 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)); and (3) the final disposal and scavenging at the landfill site in Sisdol. These descriptions refer to the involved materials, processes, and actors with the aim to identify the main challenges and opportunities in the waste chain. The paper also examines the influence of the waste crisis triggered by the earthquake and Indian blockade in 2015.