Single-use food and beverage packaging makes up over 84% of plastic waste in the Himalayan region.
Around 70% of plastic collected from the region is non-recyclable and has no market value.
The Zero Waste Himalaya Alliance highlighted the failure of current policies to address mountain ecosystem challenges.
The alliance has been leading The Himalayan Cleanup (THC) movement since 2018 to tackle plastic pollution in the region.
The 2024 cleanup involved 15,000 volunteers from 350 organizations, collecting plastic waste from over 450 sites.
Sikkim generated the highest amount of waste, followed by Darjeeling and Ladakh.
The report emphasizes the need for solutions beyond recycling, as these plastics are not collected and contribute to environmental harm.
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