MITIGATING THE CONSEQUENCES OF PLASTIC WASTE

Human being in their pursuit for materialistic life style has become unmindful of its adverse
impact from its spin off on the life supporting natural systems. Nilgiris and tourism remains
inseparable with its consequential negative impact on environment. Though Tourism is an important
source of revenue to Nilgiris, it generates piles of plastic bags and garbage in the streets and in other
tourist spots. The additional waste generated by the residents and thrown all over makes the situation
much worse. This waste strewn in public leads to dreadful effect on human beings, nature and wildlife.
It has posed a massive challenge to the District Administration to effectively dispose this waste
without any damage to environment.

Road side at Aravenu with loads of dumped waste

UNCS studied the alarming situation and discussed the possible course of action with
community and District Administration. A massive cleaning and greening operation was conducted in
all 20 villages of Kodanadu panchayats simultaneously under the leadership of District Collector.
President Kodanadu panchayat, students, volunteers, district forest officer and their staff along with
anti-poaching watchers actively participated in this cleaning and greening programme. More than 10
tonnes of plastic wastes were segregated and dumped in dumping yard. These activities are still being
followed continuously in the Kodanadu panchayat, resulting in, kodanadu panchayat being selected as
one of the best clean and neat panchayat in the state.
 loading waste materials in to trucks The District collector flagging off the rally

During this plastic hunt, we came to know about one plastic recycling unit constructed five
year back by HADP at Akkal area of Jakkanarai Panchayat and remaining idle. The unit hasnt been put
to use due to the non existence of an approachable road to the recycling unit in a steep difficult
terrain. UNCS discussed with PD, DRDA and decided to form an approachable concrete road for the
recycling units under SSS. UNCS responded immediately and contributed 1/3rd of estimate amount of
Rs 3.33 lakh and closely followed the road formation as shown in the picture below.

Before formation of approach road. After formation of approach road to plastic recycling unit.

PD, DRDA allotted vehicles for the transportation of non-bio degradable waste. He also appointed two
cleaning watchers ( ) for each village. They dug 2 or 3 compost pits to dump bio
degradable wastes. Each house was supplied with 2 dustbins of green and red colour to collect
degradable and non-degradable waste respectively. Awareness programs were conducted to make
the villagers segregate and collect bio degradable waste and non-degradable waste separately. Then
the degradable waste was dumped in the compost pits and non-biodegradable waste was taken to
recycling unit.
 Individual compost pit at jakkanarai. The individual pit is in use.

Villagers even now maintain the individual compost pits and dump the degradable wastes in it.
The composted manure is then used by the villagers in their farms.

The common compost pits

They maintain and use common compost pits in the programme villages wherever space does
not exist for individual compost pits. The segregated non-degradable waste are then collected by
cleaning watchers ( ) and transported to the recycling unit.

Waste collection by DRDA women at sakkatha The farm yard manure collection from live stock at konavakarai.

There are three machines in the recycling unit.

(i) Dust cleaning machine which ensures the plastics are free of dust particles
 (ii) Cutting Machine which converts cleaned plastics into pellets, which are largely being used in
laying roads (District Collector has ordered that plastic pellets must be used while laying black
top roads).
(iii) Heating machine functions, to deliver gums from the plastic materials for making buckets,
mug and pots etc.,

Loading the segregated plastics to recycling unit The plastic recycling unit at Akkal, jakkanarai panchayat

Impact:

This recycling activity has mitigated the adverse impact of plastic dump in public places and
development of clean and salubrious streets. It has resulted in ensuring that majority of the public
area is free from plastic. It has resulted in prevalence of healthy, neat and clean environment. It also
has ensured that the drainage channels are not choked. It has also resulted in prevention of vector
breeding, surface water pollution, burying/burning of plastics, reduction of viral infections and animals
death.

Full utilization of plastic wastes in to wealth, Jakkanarai panchayat benefits with some revenues made
by selling plastic pallets for laying road @ Rs. 30/kg and plastic gums @50/kg. At present they are
getting plastic materials from other panchayats as well. It is expected that this unit will become a self
supporting waste management system in the near future.