Himalayan Cleanup: Orgs. participate in waste segregation, auditing

EM Bureau
Dimapur/Mokokchung, May 29 (EMN): Mopungchuket village under Mokokchung district participated in the Himalayan Cleanup on May 28 where volunteers numbering about 100 participated in waste segregation and auditing.

The volunteers cleaned the streets of the village, Süngkotenem Park and Mangkolong picnic spot.

A total of 214 kg of waste were collected, out of which 125 kg were plastics including PET bottles, multi layered plastics, straws and other household plastic wastes.

The non-plastic items, which comprised the remaining 89 kg, were mostly paper and metal wastes. A total of 214 kg of wastes were collected, and 115kg of recyclable wastes were recovered.

The cleanup and waste audit was conducted under the initiative of The Greensight Project.

It may be mentioned that the village has been participating in The Himalayan Cleanup since its first edition in 2018.

About 187 participants, both young and old ranging from 7 to 55 years, joined the ‘The Himalayan Cleanup’ (THC) event at Chizami village under Phek district organised by the Chizami Students’ Union (CSU) on May 28 on the theme ‘Reflect, switch and demand.’

An update from the union stated that THC is a clarion call to beat plastic pollution and replenish the ecosystem, motivating participants to move towards mindful and sustainable lifestyles. The event was organised in collaboration with the Integrated Mountain Initiative and Zero Waste Himalaya. The partners at the local-level included North East Network (NEN), Chizami Village Council (VC) and various local institutions such as village development board, six khels, women society, youth society, Watsan committee, Sacred Heart Parish and School Management Committee (SMC).

As per data collected from the waste segregation, it mentioned that the top polluters were polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and unknown plastics particularly food packaging and household products. The top five company polluters were Global Pan Masala Pvt. Ltd (total 876 wrappers collected), Trimurti Fragrance Pvt Ltd (390), Asian Thai Foods Pvt (344) and Hindustan Unilever LTD (226).

One of the alarming findings was the increase of consumerism in tobacco products at the grassroots. It also brought to the forefront the waste crisis in rural communities, the significance of social responsibility and the urgent need for an enabling environment with proper facilities for waste management for which governments, agencies and communities must partner to address the burning issue, it stated.

Meanwhile, Pfutsero Town Chakhesang Students Union (PTCSU) also joined The Himalayan Cleanup (THC) on May 28.

An update informed that various institutions in Pfutsero town joined the movement to show their love and support towards the mountains.

PTCSU selected Glory Peak, a popular place in Phek district, for the cleanup. During the cleanup, it found that multilayer plastic contributed the maximum to the waste at the peak.

After the cleanup, Truvi Rhi, PTCSU official briefed about THC and stressed on the importance of joining THC.

Rhi further informed on the objective of THC where an audit is needed to be done on the various types of waste and find out the brands, companies polluting the most and address the issue to the concerned authority in the right platform.

PTCSU President, Kekhro Mero thanked the students for turning up for the noble cause and appealed to keep up the social responsibility and work together even in the days to come.