Ziro/Arunachal Pradesh: In a significant step towards promoting responsible waste management, Lower Subansiri District Commissioner (DC) Bamin Nime inaugurated a Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (RRR) centre at the former Urban Development & Housing (UD&H) shopping complex area on Tuesday.

The initiative, funded from the DC's untied fund, aims to encourage the local community to contribute to environmental sustainability, reported The Arunachal Times. 

The RRR centre comprises eight dedicated chambers for the collection of various items, including used shoes and slippers, tools and implements, books and papers, utensils, electronic waste (e-waste), plastic items, cloth items, and other non-wet materials.

DC Bamin highlighted the concept of "one man's trash is another man's treasure," emphasizing the potential for reusing donated items such as shoes, slippers, books, and clothes.

Expressing his concerns, the DC urged residents of the valley to be responsible citizens and refrain from dumping garbage at the centre. To ensure the premises' security, CCTV cameras have been installed, and violators will face penalties, he warned.

While the RRR centre aims to supplement the ongoing garbage management system in the valley, DC Bamin clarified that the site is temporary, as plans are underway for the construction of a children's park in the future.

Acknowledging the positive shift in the valley's attitude towards garbage management, the DC commended residents for practicing primary segregation of their waste at home. He mentioned that segregating metal, plastics, clothes, and bottles has become manageable.

However, he highlighted the pressing challenge of managing diapers and sanitary napkins and urged citizens to dispose of them responsibly instead of dumping them in the Kley river or any other location. Proper burning or disposal methods should be followed, he emphasized.

Providing insights into the waste disposal process, UD Assistant Engineer Chakpu Raju explained that the accumulated materials would be collected by UD&H workers, segregated, and disposed of on the same day. This practice ensures that the chambers remain empty every evening, maintaining the efficiency of the RRR centre.

During the inauguration event, DC Bamin distributed 100 T-shirts featuring the slogan 'Respect Dignity of Labour, Practise Payback to Society' to attendees, including heads of departments, district secretariat staff, Zilla Parishad members, non-governmental organizations, youths, and students.

He appealed to everyone to dedicate one hour of their weekend time to assist in cleanliness drives in and around the Ziro-Hapoli area.

The establishment of the RRR centre marks a significant milestone in promoting responsible waste management practices, fostering a cleaner and greener environment in Lower Subansiri district.