3 months ago
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About 99% of discarded removed from the trekking routes of the Vellingiri hills aft the extremity of the pilgrimage play successful 2025 were non-recyclable, highlighting the request for liable pilgrimage by radical and effectual screening by the Forest Department.
Volunteers of the Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu conducted peculiar drives on the 6.5-km-long trekking way and removed 28 tonnes of discarded successful 2025. Single-use integrative products, polythene bags, h2o bottles, discarded apparel and multi-layer integrative (MLP) covers of snacks and chocolates were among the discarded removed.
However, astir 90% of these discarded could not beryllium recycled owed reasons specified arsenic ungraded accumulated connected them and the beingness of MLPs. They were converted to Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) and sent to cement industries, said C. Prashanth, 1 of the founders of Recompose Recycling Private Limited, which was progressive successful the initiative.
Large amounts of clothes, discarded by pilgrims aft taking dip successful Andisunai watercourse astatine the sixth hill, were besides converted to RDF. “Pilgrims proceed to discard utilized apparel astatine the site, which is simply a non-customary practice, contempt aggregate advisories issued by the Forest Department. Three boards person been placed advising pilgrims not to discard their apparel there,” said K. Prakash of Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu.
The screening by the Forest Department astatine the foothills successful Poondi could forestall radical from carrying 14 to 15 tonnes of integrative items to the hills and littering them on the trekking way successful 2025. Pilgrims could besides transportation h2o bottles by paying ₹20 per vessel and the magnitude was refunded upon producing bare bottles aft the trekking. These discarded besides comprised recyclable and non-recyclable ones similar the MLP.
Mr. Prashanth said products specified arsenic shelf, array with drawer and outdoor seat were made retired of these non-recyclable integrative discarded collected astatine Poondi. These products volition beryllium handed implicit to Forest Department soon.
He added that a akin discarded postulation inaugural has been planned for Marudhamalai temple. This year-long enactment volition beryllium launched connected Saturday.
Meanwhile, Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu successful collaboration with Aaniver Organisation, Kalam Pasumai Iyakkam and pupil volunteers from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School astatine Ajjanur carried retired a discarded postulation thrust astatine Marudhamalai connected February 8. The thrust was organised to wide discarded littered by visitors to the elevation temple during Thai Poosam festival.
R. Santhakumar of Aniver Organisation said volunteers created consciousness among visitors astatine the 2nd gross of Bharathiar University connected February 1.
