Hyderabad: Here’s how high school students are improving waste management

Hyderabad-based non-government organisation Civitas, started by high schoolers, is striving to improve garbage management in the city.

Have you ever been conscious about how you segregate your waste or aware of how hazardous it is for the environment if you don't? With growing concerns of increasing global waste, waste management and segregation are vital for avoiding ecological and health hazards, yet are often overlooked. To raise awareness, the Hyderabad-based non-government organisation 'Civitas', started by high schoolers, is striving towards better garbage management in the city.

Founded by Rithvik Jampana, Sideesh Reddy, and Vansh Lohia, grade XI students at Sreenidhi International School, the NGO was established in October 2020. It has been collecting disposable waste from various communities and sending it to local recyclers. Apart from this, the team of 25 volunteers visits multiple localities in the city to raise awareness about waste management by giving seminars and offering tips for better garbage management.

"As we observed, e-waste, the most dangerous kind of waste for the environment, is not being disposed of properly, even in residential areas where well-educated people live. We understood people's lack of waste management awareness and decided to start the organisation," said Rithvik.

Stating that they started with e-waste drives at identified residential places and corporate offices, he added that the team had learnt various disposal and recycling methods over time as they researched, which they could implement and educate the residents.

Ranging from e-waste to metal waste, Rithvik claimed that the organisation has collected and sent about 3,00,000 kgs of waste for recycling. The NGO also places its bins in residential colonies and communities, providing residents with a facility to dispose of e-waste and fabric waste specifically.

One of the key verticals of the organisation is to support trash pickers around the city. The NGO is allocating some of its funds to provide health and safety kits containing boots, cut-resistant gloves, and other essential items to the waste workers. "Through our research, we found that the lifespan of our country's trash-pickers is just 38 years due to the dangerous conditions they work in. Trash pickers are the ones who keep our country running, yet they are rarely acknowledged," explained Rithvik.

Switch to eco-friendly products. Visit www.quitplastic.in