Piles of trash line the streets of Dimapur during the festive season, raising the need to adopt sustainable waste management practices and zero-waste approach.
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The curtains have fallen on the 10-day Hornbill Festival after days of festivities, but celebrations will continue in the state until New Year's Day and beyond, as events from major ones to family gatherings are typically planned during this holiday season. The streets of urban areas such as Dimapur and Kohima are bustling with people shopping for Christmas. Amid the festivities, we also face a familiar challenge that often goes unnoticed: the massive amount of waste produced. What was witnessed during the just-concluded Hornbill Festival is a case in point. It was informed that more than 29 tonnes of waste—21,164 kilograms of biodegradable waste and 8,703 kilograms of non-biodegradable waste—including single-use plastic items and food packaging was generated in just seven days. What is more concerning is littering, though dustbins were installed throughout the vicinity – both for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Despite the “eco-friendly” tag and dozens of workers in safety vests tirelessly picking up trash, litter, such as smokeless tobacco packages, water bottles, and paper wraps, could be found strewn on the sidewalks. If an event that has invested significant resources to maintain its 'Single Use Plastics Free & Garbage Free Clean Festival' status still encounters littering issues, one can only imagine the challenges faced by other events that do not receive such attention from the authorities. It is no surprise that piles of trash line the streets of Dimapur during the festive season, particularly events like carnival. It stinks of utter negligence and lack of civic sense.
Festivals significantly contribute to various forms of pollution—environmental, air, and water—overwhelming the waste management systems because of the amount of trash generated. In addition to polluting the environment, tons of waste, particularly plastic items, end up in water bodies, including oceans. This occurs mainly through rivers, drains, and waterways, posing a threat to human health and endangering marine life. The Doyang Dam, which is often choked with plastics and other debris carried in from upstream during heavy rains, is a good case in point. Drains in urban areas like Dimapur and Kohima are even worse. This calls for the urgent need to curbing the impact festivities on the environment through sustainable celebration methods. The way forward is the adaptation of sustainable waste management practices and a zero-waste approach during celebrations, be they weddings, sports events or other public gatherings. This is also a time for outings with family and friends. We should make an effort to avoid littering open spaces and scenic locations like riverside. Responsible celebration should be our mantra this festive season.