With over 6 lakh pilgrims visiting annually, the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, places significant environmental pressure on a fragile Himalayan ecosystem due to the surge in plastic waste. Waste management is particularly challenging because of rugged high-altitude terrain, mule-only access routes, extreme weather conditions, frequent landslides, and limited temporary infrastructure.
With over 6 lakh pilgrims visiting annually, the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, places significant environmental pressure on a fragile Himalayan ecosystem due to the surge in plastic waste. Waste management is particularly challenging because of rugged high-altitude terrain, mule-only access routes, extreme weather conditions, frequent landslides, and limited temporary infrastructure.
Over 25 days, dDRS set up more than 30 collection centres, tackling plastic waste along a 13 km high-altitude pilgrimage route. The system achieved a 99% collection rate despite harsh weather, extreme terrain and limited connectivity.
Instant cash refunds, even in no-network zones, encouraged pilgrims to return packaging instead of discarding it along narrow mule routes. The approach improved collection efficiency, reduced litter in ecologically sensitive areas, and nudged pilgrims toward personal…
