5 September 2022
Engaging Citizens in Waste Management
"No matter what sector you are working in, you are a waste generator. You are getting something from the enviroment, so to give something back, you need to engage with it."
In the 3rd episode of Season 1 of our podcast “Talk in the Town”, we featured Ms. Shefali Dudhbade, an environmentalist and a freelance architect. Ms. Dudhbade is a founding member of Swachh Association Nagpur, an NGO dedicated to waste management in and around the city. Driven by a strong commitment to sustainability, she has been successfully treating 90% of her household waste for the past decade – a practice she attributes to her environmentally conscious upbringing.
During this conversation, Ms. Dudhbade shares her insightful story behind the formation of Swachh Association Nagpur and Anviti, an environmental pressure group, both born from the collective efforts of like-minded citizens determined to make a difference. She emphasises the importance of sensitising people to waste management at the household level, advocating for practical solutions that can be easily integrated into daily life.
Ms. Dudhbade also highlights various community-driven initiatives and pilot projects undertaken at the area and city levels, shedding light on the role of local authorities and sharing impactful stories of change. Plus, she offers some simple, actionable waste management tips that listeners can adopt at home.