NEW DELHI: The Indian Army plans to dispose of about 100 tons of waste every year from the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen glacier , with instructions being passed to troops deployed there to reduce garbage and increase its disposal.The army has disposed of 130 tons of waste, including biodegradable and non-biodegradable, collected from January last year as part of its “Siachen Swachh Abhiyan”. Officials added that every year about 236 tons of waste is generated in Siachen. This would amount to about 8,000 tons since 1984, when the army began being deployed there.The army has also collaborated with the civil administration to have barrels painted with signages for segregating waste near villages in Nubra Valley . The waste collected goes through the army’s disposal mechanism.This is the first institutionalised effort by the army to collect and dispose waste. It has created a concept paper, which began in January last year and completed this February, that aims at decreasing waste. “The process of waste generation is essentially rooted inthe survival of troops present on the glacier and their need to be operationally prepared and logistically supported to undertake combat operations in such terrain and weather conditions. Since every item inducted into the glacier is a potential source of waste, the entire process of waste generation needs to be viewed holistically through total tonnage inducted into the glacier for requisite logistics support to these troops,” according to the paper.Certain action plans have been set by the paper, such as sensitising troops deployed in Siachen on identifying and classifying waste, decreasing waste such as food cartons and creating waste disposal methods.Officials said out of the 130 tons of waste collected since last year, 48.4 tons are biodegradable, 40.32 tons are non-biodegradable and non-metallic waste and 42.45 tons are non-biodegradable and mettalic waste.“The biggest challenge of collecting waste in Siachen is the altitude. Posts are located at altitudes ranging from 18,000 to 21,000 feet. Also, nothing degrades at the sub-zero temperature here, so everything has to be brought down,” an official said.This is also a reason why the army is focussed on cleaning up Siachen glacier, because of the difficulty in doing it. Waste can only be brought down to the base camp via helicopters or on foot.The army has also a new Standard Operating Procedure for all its patrols and administrative columns, which is that each person will carry 10 to 12 kg of waste.Once collected, the army has bailing machines which destroy the biodegradable waste. Non-metallic waste is burnt in three incinerators, including one located at the Siachen base camp. The ashes produced are used as manure in nearby villages. Officials added that work is being done on disposing human waste as well.