It isn’t every day that a resident calls up the president of the RWA and request for garbage. The BSG (Bharat Soka Gakkai) had launched a massive Plastic Recycling Scheme of 25 tonnes from the NCR.
Some 200 DPCs (District Plastic Coordinators) were appointed. That’s where Deepak Khemani, a resident entered the picture. Long associated with the SGI, he found himself willy-nilly thrust into the midst of the campaign. Friendly, but reserved, he was extremely tentative about his ability to deliver. Although pushed for a target of 20 kilos, he felt unable to commit to more than 13 kilos.
Being fiercely anti-plastic, we put our heads together to organize the collection drive. An advisory was sent out on all the Whatsapp groups, asking for “donations.” The carton container of a recently purchased kitchen hood was placed strategically, at the Guard Desk, for easy collection of smaller quantities, the street sweepers and park gardeners were roped in to rummage through their roadside garbage and trash cans for plastic bottles, and packets, while the local Raddiwaala, Nanhe was roped in for collection of larger and bulkier donations. A special pat on the back to him, for cooperating; even though he, himself was the loser of his “Revenue”. As a resident Viren Thakur pointed out; “if it were not for these kabadiwalas and rag pickers, all our cities would be a heap of plastic, rubber, rags and garbage. We have not recognized their contribution to the environment. The level of recycling done by them is amazing: everything, to the minimum levels, is segregated and recycled. As a country, we need to recognize their invaluable contribution to keeping the Earth pollution-free.”
Cycling buddy V K Chauhan was roped in, on a door-to-door campaign requesting for plastic scrap. Some were amused, some slightly suspicious, but most residents generously rummaged through their garbage to contribute their mite. Milk packets were collected, some cleaned, some in need thereof. Some conscientious, like the Sonis, piled up their cars and made multiple visits to Deepak’s house. Slowly, the mound grew and grew. 13 kg was reached and soon left behind. The 20 kg target was scaled and Deepak heaved a sigh of relief. And then, the movement caught on. Bundles of plastic covered the entire porch and lawn, and visitors had to weave their way to reach the house door.
At the final count, our haul was all of 70Kgs! 250% of the target load. Nanhes thela was again roped in, to carry the plastic to the collection point, and the Sector gave resounding praise to our Plastic Crusader.
