The environmentalists and concerned citizens are alarmed at the manner in which the plastic waste is increasing in Doon valley. Apart from clogging the drains in the urban areas the plastic waste is contaminating water bodies in the valley.

The founder of Social Development for Communities (SDC) foundation, Anoop Nautiyal said, “Plastic waste in Dehradun has increased a lot in the past few years. Picnic spots like Maldevta and Kimadi have an alarming amount of plastic wrappers thrown around.” He opined that tourists and locals need to be more sensitive and aware.

Nautiyal said that active Policing and a system of imposing penalties is needed to be implemented and authorities’ intervention is required in such places. He added, “While many people are working to combat the issue of plastic waste, no effort or model so far has been able to stop it. The government needs to come up with something solid and sustainable, and not just a one or two-day campaign.”

Dehradun-based NGO Waste Warrior’s manager, Aman Grover said, “Households generate a lot of plastic waste in the form of milk packets, spice pouches, or delivery products wrapped in plastic layers. While some of the waste is recyclable, mixing non-recyclable plastic wrappers with compostable food waste causes pollution.” He elaborated that in tourist places like Sahastradhara, people throw away plastic in the river and his organization has set up 50 dustbins around the area to combat the problem. Tourists and locals are often found hiking in interior trails of mountains and places like Jhadipani or Maldevta and throw their waste around these places. In the past two years, his NGO has collected 700 metric tons of plastic waste for recycling around Dehradun. He commented, “We need a behavioural change in people, be it self-realized or forced by the authorities through fines and punishments. Government intervention is the need of the hour. The Municipalities should train their workers about the recyclable plastic waste and the workers could then in-turn teach households to separate their waste products responsibly.”