Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 22 Dec: A youth-led cleanliness drive was organised in Manduwala, Dehradun, resulting in the collection of nearly 82 kilograms of waste, which was diverted from landfill and sent for scientific processing to the Harrawala Material Recovery Facility (MRF) managed by Waste Warriors.
The clean-up drive was initiated and led by Aastha, a local student and a Changemaker in WWS’s Changemaker’s Community, whose efforts played a central role in mobilising community participation. With support from the Gram Panchayat Manduwala, the drive was conducted under the leadership of Gram Pradhan Varsha Uniyal, along with Ward Member Swati Yadav and other women members of the Gram Panchayat.
Around 20 concerned local citizens actively participated in the drive.
The initiative also received on-ground support from the Waste Warriors team, including Avadesh Pundir and Riya Chaudhary, along with volunteers and members of the Changemakers Community—an initiative of Waste Warriors that encourages citizen-led environmental action.
Youth activist Satvik Bansal also supported the initiative through on-ground coordination and community engagement.
Waste collected from public spaces and roadside areas was properly segregated and transported to the Harrawala MRF, ensuring it did not end up in open dumping sites or landfills. The cleanup activity initially covered a stretch of approximately 100 metres, marking the beginning of a larger effort, as Aastha is now working towards cleaning the entire area with continued community and institutional support.
The initiative highlighted how youth-led action, when supported by local governance and environmental organisations, can create tangible impact on the ground. Local representatives appreciated the collaboration and expressed hope that similar community-driven efforts will be replicated in other villages to promote sustainable and landfill-free waste management practices.
