99% of waste removed from Vellingiri hills in 2025 were non-recyclable, converted to RDF

About 99% of waste removed from the trekking routes of the Vellingiri hills after the end of the pilgrimage season in 2025 were non-recyclable, highlighting the need for responsible pilgrimage by people and effective screening by the Forest Department.

Volunteers of the Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu conducted special drives along the 6.5-km-long trekking route and removed 28 tonnes of waste in 2025. Single-use plastic products, polythene bags, water bottles, discarded clothes and multi-layer plastic (MLP) covers of snacks and chocolates were among the waste removed.

However, around 90% of these waste could not be recycled due reasons such as soil accumulated on them and the presence of MLPs. They were converted to Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) and sent to cement industries, said C. Prashanth, one of the founders of Recompose Recycling Private Limited, which was involved in the initiative.

Large amounts of clothes, discarded by pilgrims after taking dip in Andisunai stream at the sixth hill, were also converted to RDF.  “Pilgrims continue to discard used clothes at the site, which is a non-customary practice, despite multiple advisories issued by the Forest Department. Three boards have been placed advising pilgrims not to discard their clothes there,” said K. Prakash of Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu.

The screening by the Forest Department at the foothills in Poondi could prevent people from carrying 14 to 15 tonnes of plastic items to the hills and littering them along the trekking route in 2025. Pilgrims could also carry water bottles by paying ₹20 per bottle and the amount was refunded upon producing empty bottles after the trekking. These waste also comprised recyclable and non-recyclable ones like the MLP.

Mr. Prashanth said products such as shelf, table with drawer and outdoor bench were made out of these non-recyclable plastic waste collected at Poondi. These products will be handed over to Forest Department soon. 

He added that a similar waste collection initiative has been planned for Marudhamalai temple. This year-long activity will be launched on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu in collaboration with Aaniver Organisation, Kalam Pasumai Iyakkam and student volunteers from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School at Ajjanur carried out a waste collection drive at Marudhamalai on February 8. The drive was organised to clear waste littered by visitors to the hill temple during Thai Poosam festival.

R. Santhakumar of Aniver Organisation said volunteers created awareness among visitors at the second gate of Bharathiar University on February 1.