WOKHA — Concerned about the growing problem of plastic waste in his community, Wokha resident R Zaben Ngullie is taking action, one bottle at a time.
On September 11, Ngullie installed two plastic bottle collection cages at petrol stations in Wokha Town, aiming to encourage the reuse of plastic bottles larger than one litre.
He said that the cages were provided by the Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department in Wokha.
Ngullie said that his initiative focuses on ‘reuse’ as a solution as the town lacks recycling facilities such as a dedicated recycling plant or baling press machine.
After installing the cages, he met with the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Wokha to apprise them of his initiative. He urged the district administration to issue a directive requiring all hotels and restaurants, particularly those along the highway, to implement separate plastic bottle collection units.
Proper disposal of plastic waste is crucial to mitigating its environmental impact and that collected plastic can be eventually recycled, he said.
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Ngullie told this newspaper that his initiative was sparked by a recent encounter at a local shop. He observed a young man purchase a litre of bottled water only to discard the contents and keep the empty bottle, which he intended to use for purchasing petrol.
Inspired by this incident, he appealed to all stakeholders to dispose of plastic bottles responsibly and to view waste as a resource that can be reused or repurposed.
Collective action and a sense of accountability are essential to addressing the plastic pollution crisis, he added.