Nearly 99% of the 28 tonnes of waste cleared from the trekking routes of the Vellingiri hills after the 2025 pilgrimage season was found to be non-recyclable and was converted into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), underscoring mounting environmental concerns over irresponsible pilgrim practices.
Volunteers of the Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu conducted special cleanup drives along the 6.5-km trekking stretch and collected large quantities of single-use plastic products, polythene bags, water bottles, discarded clothes and multi-layered plastic (MLP) snack wrappers.
According to C. Prashanth, founder of Recompose Recycling Private Limited, which partnered in the initiative, the overwhelming majority of the collected waste could not be recycled. Soil accumulation on plastic items and the prevalence of MLP packaging made conventional recycling unviable. The waste was instead processed into RDF and supplied to cement industries.
Discarded clothes add to the burden
A significant portion of the waste consisted of clothes discarded by pilgrims after taking a dip in the Andisunai stream at the sixth hill.
“Pilgrims continue to discard used clothes at the site, which is a non-customary practice, despite multiple advisories issued by the Forest Department,” said K. Prakash of Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu. Three signboards have been installed at the site urging devotees not to leave garments behind.
These discarded textiles were also converted into RDF.
Screening gaps at foothills
Activists pointed out that improved screening at the Poondi foothills by the Forest Department could have prevented 14 to 15 tonnes of plastic waste from being carried uphill during the 2025 season.
Pilgrims are permitted to carry water bottles upon paying a refundable deposit of ₹20, which is returned when empty bottles are brought back after the trek. Despite this measure, both recyclable and non-recyclable plastics especially MLP packaging were found scattered along the route.
Mr. Prashanth said some of the non-recyclable plastic waste collected at Poondi had been repurposed into value-added products such as shelves, tables with drawers and outdoor benches. These items are set to be handed over to the Forest Department.
Similar drives planned at Marudhamalai
A similar year-long waste management initiative is scheduled to be launched at Marudhamalai temple.
Earlier, on February 8, Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu, in collaboration with Aaniver Organisation, Kalam Pasumai Iyakkam and student volunteers from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, Ajjanur, conducted a cleanup drive at Marudhamalai. The effort followed waste accumulation during the Thai Poosam festival.
R. Santhakumar of Aniver Organisation said volunteers had also created awareness among visitors near the second gate of Bharathiar University on February 1, urging responsible disposal practices.
The findings from Vellingiri hills have renewed calls for stricter monitoring, improved waste screening at entry points, and stronger public awareness campaigns to preserve fragile hill ecosystems from pilgrimage-related litter.