Mokokchung residents sensitised on management of single-used plastics

MOKOKCHUNG — Earth Alliance has organised a sensitisation workshop on the management of multi-layer plastics (MLP) and single-use plastics (SUP) in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office in Mokokchung town on October 11.

Speaking at the programme, the sub-divisional officer of Mokokchung, Abeinuo Jasmine Ashao, observed that Mokokchung looks ‘okay’ from the outside but falls far apart from a waste management perspective as all the wastes generated are dumped randomly. She has termed the issue as a major challenge for government machinery and municipalities as they do not have the mechanism to dispose of multi-layered plastic, single-use plastic and other wastes.

She also disclosed that the only thing that Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC) could do was to encourage the public to segregate dry and wet waste, which are collected and disposed of.

“There is no mechanism for proper disposal of MLP and SUP when it comes to waste management in Mokokchung,” she said.

She has acknowledged the initiative undertaken by the Earth Alliance, a movement to tackle the problem of MLP and SUP, in this regard.

She further stated that students have an important role to play in tackling the issue of MLP and SUP and bringing an impactful revolution in waste management.

Founder of Mumbai Sustainable Centre (MSC), Rishi Aggarwal, while highlighting the Safai Bank of India initiatives on the management of MLP and SUP, informed that Safai Bank is a simple methodology to manage MLP and SUP and encouraged all the schools to introduce Safia Bank of India.

Aggarwal informed that opening of Safia Bank in schools and colleges would help in the collection of large concentrations of MLP and SUP in the institution itself and would help to dispose of the waste in a secure and responsible way instead of diverting it to the municipal dumping site.

Founder of Earth Alliance, Thangi Mannen, said, “What we are doing today is taking a small step for ourselves for the future and our environment. If we don’t act now, the future is likely to be dark.”

Representative of the Clean Mokokchung Campaign, Limaonen Imchen, also spoke at the event.

More than 20 students attended the workshop.

Also read: Nagaland Secretariat welcomes new recruits