Sonada Degree College begins journey to become first ‘Zero Waste College’ in the Hills

DARJEELING, : Sonada Degree College has initiated its transformation into the first “Zero Waste College” in the Darjeeling hills. The initiative, launched on Thursday in partnership with the eco-conscious organization Tieedi, aims to ensure that the college neither dumps nor burns its waste, but instead manages it through a systematic recovery and recycling process.

The launch was marked by the graduation of the first batch of 10 student interns from the college, who completed a hands-on internship with Tieedi. These students have been instrumental in promoting zero-waste practices across households in Sonada, guiding nearly a hundred homes to adopt sustainable waste management habits.

“Our partnership with Sonada Degree College reached a milestone today,” said Utsow Pradhan, a founding member of Tieedi. “The graduation of the first batch of interns and the college’s official declaration to pursue a zero-waste model signal a powerful commitment to sustainability.”

A “Zero Waste College,” Pradhan explained, implies that the institution will not dispose of or incinerate its waste. Instead, all waste will be sorted and stored in a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) within the college premises. This waste will then be transferred to Tieedi’s central facility for further processing, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

Tieedi, which has been at the forefront of zero-waste advocacy in the region, focuses on waste segregation and composting. Its model encourages households to convert biodegradable waste into organic compost while responsibly managing non-biodegradable materials. The organization has also recently partnered with Tetra Pak to recycle used beverage cartons, with materials collected in Darjeeling being sent to Khatema Fibres in Uttarakhand for recycling.

The initiative at the college is also being actively supported by a faculty-led steering committee. The group is working to embed zero-waste principles into the student community and design outreach programs to involve the broader Sonada population.

Pradhan emphasized the broader vision behind the project. “If just ten students can help 100 homes become zero waste, imagine what a thousand students could do. This initiative has the potential to turn all of Sonada, and perhaps even half of Darjeeling, into a zero-waste zone,” he said.