Waste reduction and management saw a renewed boost during the recent Zero Waste Festival in Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar. Residents gathered in hordes to pledge their support and commitment to combat the ever increasing problem of waste management.
Our Samdrup Jongkhar correspondent, Kinzang Yeshey, was there at the festival.
Zero Waste festival, an initiative, the first of its kind, came as an eye opener for many in Samdrup Jongkhar. The event, organised by the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative (SJI), saw an overwhelming response from the public, government agencies and institutions. On the festival day, people gathered at the historic Wangchuk stadium at Dewathang in scores.
Students from schools in Dewathang, monks of Dewathang Shedra, Trainees of Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic Institute, officials from Samdrup Jongkhar and the Royal Bhutan Army and the residents of Dewathang area made up the crowd.
The participants shared their experiences in dealing with waste. Senior citizens and officials including the ones from RBA in Dewathang and Samdrup Jongkhar actively discussed on waste reduction and management with resource persons from outside.
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There was also a Q&A session on best practices elsewhere. Lessons, experiences, technology and indigenous knowledge on waste management were shared.
The children from the schools in Dewathang who showcased waste arts had attended waste art workshop organised by SJI at various intervals during the year. They were instrumental in collecting wastes in Dewathang area making the place clean.
SJI officials and people who attended the zero waste said they are now aware about managing waste at home in particular and in their society at large.
The Zero Waste Festival in Dewathang ended on September 30.
