Bidyanondo Foundation has collected 90 lakh pieces of plastic bottles from the country’s most popular tourist destination Saint Martin’s Island.
The found carried out the herculean job by engaging all the residents of the country’s lone coral island.
“We didn't do it. It was done by the residents of the island. Instead of a few volunteers, Bidyananda could engage all the residents of the island as plastic cleaners. That's what we wanted... From the beach to the corner of the house, they store all the plastic and collect their daily essential commodities from Bidyanodo’s exchange shop in exchange for that plastic,” said the foundation in a Facebook post.
“When the shop opens, customers stand in front of the store with plastic in sacks. Pulses are given for 1 kg of plastic, oil is priced at 3 kg of plastic. So there are fish-chicken-eggs to clothes! At the shop, plastic is used as currency, not money,” it added.
Bidyanondo Foundation took up the initiative to reduce plastic pollution on the island on December 12. Under the project, a "Plastic Exchange Store" has been set up on the island in collaboration with the district administration.
The "Plastic Exchange Store" remains open twice a month. People can in turn exchange their stored or collected plastic for necessary goods as per their needs.
