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![]() ![]() Clean Upper Dharamsala Recycling Programme IF somebody knocks your door early in the morning asking for recyclable articles. It must be the Green Workers of Clean Upper Dharamsala Recycling Programme of Tibetan Welfare Office (TWO), Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala. They visit door to door to collect recyclable articles such as glass and plastic bottles, plastic bags, papers and others. These recyclable and some non-degradable items are often thrown with household garbage down the hills of upper Dharamsala by the people without care. Since its inception in June 1994 Clean Upper Dharamsala Recycling Programme (CUDRP) has been one of the most active green souls of Dharamsala spreading the message of environmental awareness in the communities consisting of both Tibetans and Indians. They do this not with words alone, but with on the ground action- surely seeing is believing. Green workers collect and segregate 3000 kg of wastes every month. They sell the plastic bags to a local Indian who recycles them in Kangra, a 30 minute drive from Dharamsala. Clean Upper Dharamsala Recycling Programme has set up a paper recycling unit. They employ several people to make handmade recycled products such as cards, envelope and others. These are marketed to raise funds to help maintain the self-sufficiency of the project. CUDRP has established a shop in Mcleod Ganj called Green Shop, which sell boiled and filtered water at low cost to decrease the mega inflow of plastic mineral water bottles, which are non-degradable and are often randomly thrown on the hillsides by tourists and locals alike. Plastic mineral water bottles are collected, crushed and sold to dealers in Pathankot, a city four hour drive from Dharamsala. Green Shop also educate people on environmental awareness and sell other eco-friendly products. The success of CUDRP can be attributed to people who have vision and faith in themselves. And a zeal to overcome the difficulties against all odds. One such person is Mr. Dawa Tsering, Tibetan Welfare Officer who initiated the recycling project with the support of dedicated staff members and volunteers. To sum up Dawa la has the last word, "Being a Tibetan living in the headquarter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama it becomes very important that every Tibetan should be environmentally aware to keep our surroundings clean. As a Tibetan I feel Rangzen (freedom for Tibet from Chinese rule) is crucial, but as a human being living on this planet taking care of the environment is more important to me than Rangzen."
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[ Environmental Situation ] [ Green Tibet 1997 ]
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