From baskets and belts to rachu made from plastics, the Bhutan Ecological Society’s Waste and Resource Expo highlighted innovative solutions to plastic pollution. The society showcased a range of items from various parts of the country at the expo held in the capital on 7th September. The expo is aimed at addressing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable waste management while actively engaging youth and waste sector workers.
The expo aims to provide an educational experience, emphasising the harmful effects of plastic waste on the environment and encouraging communities to reduce plastic waste.
“The overall goal of the PLEASE project is to reduce the amount of plastic waste in South Asian seas and oceans. But how do you get there? You have to look upstream and you have to look at places like Bhutan where the trash that we throw in the Wang Chhu River here, eventually may end up in the Bay of Bengal, into the Indian Ocean. So, if you want no plastic in seas and oceans, you must start with no plastic in rivers and streams. So that is the overall idea of the project,” said Phub Dorji, organiser.
The expo showcased a diverse range of products made from waste from different regions including Phuentshogling, and Samdrup Jongkhar among others.
“By participating in an expo like this, we are trying to share our 14 years of experience and challenges with the youths here,” said Cheku Dorji, programme director of Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative.
“Through this expo, we can educate the youths on waste management. We are asking them to share it with their friends. It would be helpful if we segregate the waste from the source,” said Chogyel Lhamo, founder of SheCycle.
Additionally, organisations such as Clean Bhutan, Gross International Nature, and Greener Way provided insights to the youths on waste management initiatives.
The expo is part of the ‘Reimagining Effective Partnerships for Tackling Plastic Waste and River Pollution’ project, which is funded by the World Bank.
A Plastic-Free Rivers hackathon, a competition to come up with creative strategies to reduce plastic waste in schools and communities, was also conducted, involving students and youths from various institutions.
Deki Lhazom/Pema Tshomo
Edited by Sonam Pem
