My Plastic, My Responsibility

Achieving sustainable and environmentally sound practices at a regional level.

By Rashmi Shah, Administrative Coordinator

The Women’s Welfare Association (WWA) recently visited the Jhamtse Gatsal campus to build on our shared plastic waste management responsibility. WWA is a non-profit organization in the Tawang district with chapters in Tawang town, Lungla, and Jung. In a meeting with Genla Lobsang Phuntsok, they shared their challenges and their plans to make the Tawang region plastic-free. These inspiring leaders also plan on creating mass awareness by setting an example for other villages. WWA-Lungla (the town closest to Jhamtse Gatsal) also joined the discussion the following day.

WWA-Tawang and WWA-Lungla teams in discussion with Lobsang Phuntsok about their challenges and next steps

All these inspiring women passionately shared details of their ongoing journey, challenges, and solutionary ideas. Some of the challenges that both the groups shared included ideas for local awareness drives, a lack of a good solution for glass waste, and inadequate collection bags, among others. The discussion also included the next steps for making Lungla a plastic-free zone.

Conversations are already underway with the local administration to bring this goal to fruition. Other possible solutions from the meeting included making plastic bags chargeable, creating a large storage room, or mid-sized plastic collection banks made with recycled plastic near Tawang. Another possible solution included creating a composting area for wet biodegradable waste near Tawang.

Jhamtse Gatsal in collaboration with WWA-Lungla fulfilled their pledge of cleaning up a scenic place at least once a year. It took three hours of hard work on a hot, sunny day by 5 WWA members and a 26-member team from Jhamtse Gatsal including children and staff members to clean up Jigden Jamkhar Park.

Plastic waste management is a pressing global issue that requires a concerted effort by governments, industries, and individuals. By adopting innovative techniques and making conscious choices to reduce our plastic consumption, we can help mitigate the environmental and health impact of this growing crisis. Together, we can work towards a future with less plastic waste and a healthier planet.

Jhamtse Gatsal applauds WWA-Tawang and WWA-Lungla’s efforts and is grateful for their support. Their enthusiasm and steadfast commitment to making Tawang a zero-waste district inspire us to do more. We could not achieve a district-level impact without their diligence and hard work. We look forward to a long-lasting and impactful engagement with them for the sustainable development of our beautiful Himalayan region.

WWA members with trash dropped off at Jhamtse Gatsal for recycling.