DIMAPUR, JUNE 5 (MExN): The recently conducted Himalayan Cleanup in Nagaland state’s commercial hub, Dimapur, found that disposables dominated the plastic waste category with a staggering 3970 pieces from only 23 sacks weighing 210 kgs.
Multi-layered plastics and other non-branded plastics with 1820 and 569 pieces respectively were the second and third offenders. As with any region, Gutkha was the major consumable with brands like Talab and Dilbag raking in the top position in the brand category with 820 pieces. Greenfield Lassi and ORS took the second position with 88 pieces. Third position went to Rum Pum with 87 pieces.
A press note from Living for Environment (LiFE), which along with the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) led the cleanup in the Dimapur NFR area, also pointed out that a brand called Day’s Beverage, not found in India and unheard of, reached Dimapur all the way from Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the waste audit found that the number of PET bottles was very less compared to the rest as the kabariwallas had scavenged it. The press note informed that this data was collected during the audit which saw the collection of 155 sacks of waste weighing 1550 kilograms.
“Due to the variety of waste, the segregation and brand audit could only be done on 23 sacks, out of the total 155 sacks. The task was overwhelming as the number of brands was diverse,” it said. While informing that most of the waste was soiled, wet, faeces and earth with vegetation, it stated that the top waste menace was plastic in all forms. The audit also brought to light a number of brands unheard of and revealed the sheer amount of certain brands.
The LiFE press note added that from the segregation and brand audit, it is evident that only few plastic wastes have market value. “Multi-layered plastics are a nuisance that is good only for packaging and no one bothers with it. Also, single used plastics/disposables, the most sought due to its convenience, is adding more to the waste accumulation,” it observed.
It further cautioned that plastics are the greatest threat to the environment. While cheap, capable of being made into any conceivable shape, strong and durable; however plastic has become a threat to much of life on the planet.
”If we cannot come together now and take action, our Nagaland, in the next 10-20 years, will be known not for its greenery but for abundance of plastic waste,” the LiFE cautioned.
