A Trash Hunt: Youngsters Join Hands To Clean Up The Environment

India is facing several changes and issues on the environmental front with deforestation, declining forest cover, rising pollution, immense climate change, pollution, and the spread of waste topping the list.

While the conversion of forest lands for development, industrialisation and the construction of settlements, roads, irrigation projects and eco-tourism centres is responsible for India’s declining tree cover and forest loss, the unattended and careless disposal of waste adds to the swelling waste crisis of the country.

Despite the launch of several efforts and legislations centred towards safeguarding the environment, no drastic changes have surfaced. The land is still filled with more trash, broken earthen pots, plastic, and discarded fabric than grass and flowers. The water bodies are still floating with more white foam and wrappers of chips than clean water and marine life.

From the Ghats of Yamuna and Sanjay Van to the sprawling corridors of The Ridge in Delhi—these are a few of the last remaining green and hydro-spaces that house varied rare species of flora and fauna. However, these spaces are losing their essence amid incoming sky-high buildings, increasing deforestation, and excessive and unruly waste disposal.

While the green spaces of the city are gasping for breath and some space to be, activists, entrepreneurs, and young samaritans from all nooks and corners of the country have taken it upon themselves to work towards climate advocacy and protection.

While the green spaces of the city are gasping for breath and some space to be, activists, entrepreneurs, and young samaritans from all nooks and corners of the country have taken it upon themselves to work towards climate advocacy and protection.

Founded in 2018, ‘There Is No Earth B’ is a people’s movement working towards decentralised climate action. This community of young men and women comprises enthusiastic volunteers who share this vision of protecting and preserving the environment.

As of May 2023, the group has organised more than 350 clean-up drives and events and has collected 24+ tons of waste from various places across the country and ensured its safe, apt, and timely disposal. Dhrstadyumn Khera from ‘There Is No Earth B’ shares that their motto is to support, encourage, and facilitate the way for an inclusive, organic, and decentralised climate action while advocating for a sustainable, equitable planet.

The group plans clean-up drives in Delhi and other cities on almost all Sundays. Their drives start at 8:30 AM and go on till 11:00 AM and it’s a fun sight to behold as people come together, wear gloves, pick up their jute bags and go on a trash hunt!

The team of ‘There Is No Earth B’ along with around 26 volunteers frequented the Yamuna Bank near Kalindi Kunj, Delhi, on April 30, 2023, for another clean-up drive. This clean-up drive was their 356th and Bhawna Tanwar from the group feels that it is an opportunity to raise awareness, meet like-minded individuals, and motivate all towards the climate movement.

Amid their game of treasure hunt, some found a 10 rupees note and a pink flower

Others found used wrappers of shampoo, chewing gum, and tobacco.

Shiva, a first-timer at the clean-up, hails from Tamil Nadu and is studying in Delhi. Bustling with enthusiasm and zeal, he feels that while we can’t control the proliferation of waste, this initiative is a remarkable stepping stone. He continues, “It is important to adopt sustainable measures to save the climate. Yamuna Bank is full of plastic and cement waste and we must bring in new ways to ensure their proper disposal”.

The organisation provides all its attendees, participants, and volunteers safety gear such as gloves and plogging sticks so that they can collect the trash without getting hurt or injured. Shubham shares that they always keep a sanitiser and first aid kit handy. He continues, “We also guide the volunteers on how to pick up waste safely and easily”.

Arundhati and Nikhil, the volunteers at the drive, are devoted to the cause of the environment and they share that they come up with their environment-related initiatives whenever they can. “We couldn’t do anything on World Earth Day so we made a point to do our part this Sunday!”, they both remark.

Just like Arundhati and Nikhil, there is another student duo committed to community service and clean-up drives. Aditya and Harshita have been associated with the Rotaract Club for 4+ years and they share, “We find time to participate in the food donation drives, animal welfare camps, community service activities, and clean-up drives even on the weekdays”.

Aditya has taken this drive seriously and is finding trash and waste from all possible places. He stumbled upon a soiled cloth and put in all his energy to pull it out. He clings to it and tried pulling it out for as long as 10 minutes. But alas, he couldn’t so he removed his gloves in disappointment.

While some think that this group is trying to neglect or degrade the municipal authority’s work, Shubham Kumar Pandey (member of the group) says, “Our idea of clean-up drives is not to replace the municipal authority but to instil an attitude of climate-consciousness. We provide people with a safe space where they can talk about the climate crisis, the issues related to waste management, the policies the government is taking or not taking, and the ways or solutions to these issues”.

All the collected waste was carefully dumped into an MCD waste van. All of this will be taken to the waste centres where the waste will be segregated according to its type or composition.

All the collected waste was carefully dumped into an MCD waste van. All of this will be taken to the waste centres where the waste will be segregated according to its type or composition.

Alternatively, the group gets in touch with recyclers and gives them the waste by segregating it. The waste is then transformed into something reusable and recycled.

Rahul, who hails from Rajasthan, has been attending clean-up drives for the last two months. While digging up the plastic from between the rocks and the ground, he shares, “In addition to these clean-up drives, we all also need to make some lifestyle changes. Carrying our cutlery or cloth bags and refraining from using plastic are some measures that we all must take”.

The volunteers feel that we can detoxify and revive nature and the water bodies only if we get serious about environmental conservation and its emerging issues.