Bottles collected during National Games turned into benches at sports college in U’khand

Dehradun: Two benches made from recycled plastic bottles collected during the recently-held National Games in Uttarakhand were installed at Maharana Pratap Sports College (MPSC) in Dehradun on Thursday. Aligned with the ‘Green Games' theme of the event, held from Jan 28 to Feb 14, around 9 lakh plastic water bottles were collected and recycled.
Uttarakhand sports minister Rekha Arya said the bottles were gathered from 11 different venues. "It was part of the ‘drink, dispose and transform' campaign. The benches, which were installed at MPSC, were built from recycled PET bottles. This symbolises the tangible outcomes of responsible waste management," Arya said.
The initiative was a joint effort by the state sports department and the drinking water company that supplied the bottles during the sporting extravaganza. Arya added that the recycled plastic will also be used to produce textiles under the same campaign.
"The move showcases our commitment towards sustainability. By transforming plastic waste into public utilities, we are driving a circular economy and reinforcing our vision for a cleaner and greener future," she added.
As part of the Games' eco-conscious efforts, the medals awarded to winners were also made from e-waste, a "first" for the National Games. The trophies presented in the event were crafted from biodegradable materials and wood paste.
The sports department also developed a ‘Khel Van Park' in Dehradun, where over 10,000 saplings will be planted – one for each medal winner.