Saamuhika Shakti has launched the “Wash the Dabba” campaign in Bengaluru, garnering support from environmentalists and sustainability advocates. This initiative aims to encourage residents to rinse their food containers before disposal, addressing a significant challenge faced by informal waste pickers in the city.
Many people ordering food online or taking away meals receive plastic containers that, while recyclable, become problematic when not cleaned before disposal. Unrinsed containers can lead to unsanitary conditions for waste pickers, who often have to sift through discarded items filled with leftover food. This not only creates an unpleasant work environment but also exposes them to health hazards, as many lack proper protective gear.
Founded in 2020, Saamuhika Shakti is a collective initiative focused on empowering informal waste pickers in Bengaluru, promoting their dignity and safety in the workplace. Vani Murthy, an environmentalist and composting advocate associated with the campaign, emphasized the importance of this small action: “Waste pickers depend on discarded waste for their livelihoods. Rinsing plastic food containers would make their already difficult job a bit more pleasant. It’s a matter of giving dignity to their profession and recognizing the invaluable contributions they make to Bengaluru and its environment.”
Mary, a sorter at a Dry Waste Collection Centre, shared the challenges she faces: “People order food from restaurants and leave leftover food or curry in the boxes. They think these boxes are part of dry waste, but they cause a lot of problems for us. I urge you to dispose of only clean boxes in the dry waste bins. Otherwise, these boxes cannot be recycled and pose serious health risks for people like us, often leaving us unwell.”
Nalini Shekhar, co-founder of Hasiru Dala, which is part of the Saamuhika Shakti collective, noted the dire conditions created by rotting food in discarded containers: “The dabbas that go unopened for 2-3 days, with leftover food rotting and emitting a foul odour, create terrible conditions for our waste pickers. Emptying and cleaning order-in or takeaway boxes increases the recyclability of these containers.”
The “Wash the Dabba” campaign delivers a crucial message to the residents of Bengaluru, emphasizing how a small act of rinsing containers can significantly impact the health and livelihoods of waste pickers and contribute to a healthier circular economy.
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