Kochi to Kanyakumari – A trip to end plastic pollution

Kochi: A group of engineers have decided to save the environment by planning a one-week bicycle tour. The tour is called 'Replace Plastic'. The techies will be cycling from Kochi to Kanyakumari. The tour has been planned to reduce plastic pollution. 

The tour has been planned by an NGO called AccelerateSD.

A group of techies started the tour in Kochi on Thursday. The techies intend on finishing 350 kilometres in a week. 

The second day stretches from Alappuzha to Kollam. The other areas to be covered are Varkala, Kovalam and Poovar. The tour will end in Kanyakumari. Since the beaches are highly polluted, the techies will conduct awareness programmes on beaches. 

The participants will collect plastic waste from the beaches. As a part of the initiative, the participants will meet with the local stakeholders to discuss plastic pollution. Research will also be conducted to trace companies that cause plastic pollution and pose danger to marine life. 

While talking to the Times of India, project associate Jaseem Shahid stated that the tour only has six participants. AccelerateSD wants increased youth participation. He stated that they intend on sensitizing the youth towards the perils of plastic pollution. 

It was also added that waste collected in the tour will be sent to a Kerala based social business, Green Worms. The waste will then be segregated, processed, disposed and recycled. 

After the tour is finished, AccelerateSD intends on launching 'Replace Plastic Ideathon'. The initiative intends on unifying people from different parts of the society to pitch their solutions for plastic pollution.