It’s everywhere, impacting our existence in adverse ways. Once hailed as a big invention, the rampant and indiscriminate use of plastic in the world has now made it an overwhelming environmental challenge.
Globally, about 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually to make bags, bottles, packages, and other commodities. Of this, only 10% is recycled and reused, while the rest ends up in landfills, oceans, and the natural environment, leaching into our soil, water, seafood, and being ingested by animals and humans.
This year, Earth Day was aimed at addressing the global plastic waste crisis, which has now taken shape as a full-fledged epidemic. To mark the occasion, SDC hosted an interactive dialogue, which was attended by over 200 citizens of Dehradun from all walks of life – academicians, scientists, waste pickers, members of civil society, students from the city’s education institutions, and bureaucrats.
On the panel were Municipal Commissioner Dehradun, Vijay Kumar Jogdande, and Naveen Kumar Sadana, Outreach and Operations Manager, Waste Warriors. The discussions included the efforts that the community and the administration are taking in creating a sustainable, clean and hygienic city to live in. The audience and panellists deliberated on various issues ranging from burning of waste, role of the informal sector in the waste economy, recycling of plastic material, plastic bans and composting models for residential societies.
SDC also invited green workers – waste pickers, segregation workers, drivers – who shared real-life experiences in the waste management sector. The Municipal Commissioner felicitated the green workers with 'Samman Awards'.
With active participation from the audience, several action points were noted down, including disseminating the toll-free numbers issued by Nagar Nigam for attending the complaints of the citizens regarding waste, encouraging RWAs to have their own composting solutions and developing a framework for the welfare of green workers.
