HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Mega Operation Repurpose Drive: Daan Utsav - Joy of Giving Week
15+ Organisations | 20+ Collections Locations | 10,000+ Kgs Collected
Mega Operation Repurpose Drive - 2nd Oct 2024:
Every 2nd October, Daan Utsav (the Joy of Giving Week) inspires communities across India to engage in acts of kindness by donating time, resources, or funds to meaningful causes. In alignment with this spirit, Let's Be The Change (LBTC) held a city-wide "Mega Operation Repurpose Drive" in collaboration with various NGOs, active citizen groups, and individuals to promote sustainable practices and waste reduction.
This year’s drive took place across 24 locations in Bengaluru, where collection stalls were set up from 9 AM to 1 PM. Citizens were encouraged to drop off recyclable items such as plastic containers, clothing, books, and e-waste. Through this initiative, we aimed to educate the public about waste segregation, build connections with local aggregators, and reduce landfill impact by repurposing collected materials.
In total, the drive brought together 16 organizations, 2 active citizen groups, and 6 individual contributors, with support from 4 collection partners. This collective effort resulted in approximately 9,000 kilograms of recyclable waste, which was handed over to our partners for further segregation. Items in good condition were repurposed, while damaged ones were recycled or upcycled.
Participating Organizations and Citizen Groups:
Let’s Be The Change (LBTC)
RR Nagar-I Care
Women of Wisdom (WOW)
Mudita
Indus International School Bangalore
Fight Like a Girl (FLAG)
7. Rotaract Club of APSCE
8. Rotaract Club of Bengaluru South End
9. Rotaract Bangalore Prime
10. Rotaract Club of PES University Electronic City
11. Rotaract Bishop Cotton Women Christian College
12. Rotaract Club of Bangalore JP Nagar
13. Rotaract Club of Bengaluru United
14. Rotaract District 3191
15. Rotaract Club of KSSEM
Rotaract Club of Bangalore Jayanagar
Active Citizen Groups:
Varthur Active Citizen Group
Jeevan Bheema Nagar Active Citizen Group
Individual Contributors:
Swastha
Prerana
Adithi
Pranav
Gauri
Lakshmi
The drive showcased how powerful community collaboration can be in promoting sustainable practices and alleviating the burden on landfills, paving the way for a cleaner, greener Bengaluru.
Tumkur Ganapathi Park Cleanathon Summary:
On 29th September 2024, Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) partnered with Himalaya Wellness and the Tumkur Municipality to conduct a cleanathon at Ganapathi Park, Tumkur. With over 70 Himalaya Wellness employees and 10+ municipal workers, the team removed overgrown weeds, cleared pathways, and collected dry waste, transforming the park into a safe, inviting space for the community. This effort, praised by local residents, restored accessibility to the park’s exercise equipment and seating areas, offering elders a welcoming spot to walk and socialize. The event highlighted the power of collaborative action in enhancing urban green spaces.
"Wash the Dabba" Campaign at WeWork – Infantry Road and Bellandur:
On October 14th and 15th, the “Wash the Dabba” campaign was held at WeWork locations on Infantry Road and in Bellandur, engaging participants in an interactive awareness drive about responsible waste disposal. The campaign highlighted the importance of rinsing and drying plastic food containers before discarding them to reduce health risks for Bengaluru’s informal waste pickers
Through a “Spin-the-Wheel” game, participants encountered tasks that showcased the impact of unwashed containers. Activities included a “Smell Test” to drive home the discomfort waste pickers endure and a video feature with Mary, a waste worker, who attended the event in person. This personal connection allowed participants to directly express their thoughts and appreciation for her work.
Participants were gifted natural scrubbers to promote eco-friendly cleaning habits, and they also received upcycled tote bags as reminders of sustainable practices. Many wrote down reflections on sticky notes, which were displayed, creating a shared learning space that inspired all attendees to take small but impactful actions towards responsible waste disposal.
Project Repurpose:
Following last month’s orientation for OSB employees, this month we extended our Project Repurpose initiative to the women of the LR Nagar community. Collaborating with the Maarga Team, which provides free tailoring classes to empower local women, we introduced our vision to upcycle textile waste into new products. This project not only promotes sustainable practices but also creates a source of income for the women involved.
During the orientation, around 10 community women expressed interest, and our trainers have begun guiding them in crafting products from upcycled materials. They have successfully learned to make jean pouches and tote bags, with plans to expand their skills to a variety of other items in the coming weeks. These products will soon be available for purchase, offering everyone an opportunity to support the project and contribute to a sustainable community. Click here to see more products.
Bosch cloth collection drive and Spin the Wheel event:
A Step Towards Sustainability: Cloth Collection Drive at Bosch Adugodi & Koramangala
On October 23rd and 24th, Let's Be The Change (LBTC), in collaboration with Bosch’s CSR team, organized a highly successful Cloth Collection Drive at Bosch Adugodi and Koramangala campuses. This initiative encouraged employees to donate unused or gently used clothes, promoting sustainability and reducing textile waste.
Event Highlights & Impact
1. Impressive Collection Numbers
The drive saw an overwhelming response, collecting a total of 403.4 kgs of textiles across both locations:
Koramangala Stall: 234.9 kgs from 32 donors
Adugodi Stall: 168.5 kgs from 57 donors
These donations will either be upcycled into innovative products or responsibly recycled through Material Recovery Facilities to ensure a circular lifecycle for the textiles.
2. Engaging Setup with Upcycled Product Displays
Both stalls featured a creative display of upcycled products, demonstrating the potential of discarded materials. Some of the showcased items included:
Denim pouches
Fish and hen-shaped pouches
Travel organizers
Pineapple-themed kid’s bags
Decorative buntings with storage pouches
Coir-based festival decor
Polished coconut shells (perfect for serving snacks like ice cream or gol gappa)
To complement these displays, visitors received awareness materials on the environmental impact of fast fashion and proper waste segregation practices.
3. Spin the Wheel: Fun Meets Awareness Our Spin the Wheel game added an element of fun, attracting significant participation:
Koramangala: 56 participants
Adugodi: 31 participants
Tasks like Guess the Fabric, Textile Trivia, and DIY Sharing kept the energy high. Winners were rewarded with eco-friendly coir scrubbers, leaving them with a smile and a memorable experience.
4. Lucky Winner Drop Box
To appreciate our donors, we introduced a Lucky Winner Drop Box. From each location, three lucky winners were rewarded with exclusive upcycled denim pouches.
Here are the winners:
Koramangala: Vindhya Kudva, Surya Prakash, Abhilash BT
Adugodi: Jotheshwari Subramaniam, Aruna, Soujanya
Key Achievements
Total Donations: 403.4 kgs of textiles
Total Donors: 89 (Koramangala: 32, Adugodi: 57)
Engagement via Spin the Wheel: 87 participants
Newsletter Quest:
Here’s a fun game to quickly conclude this month’s newsletter! Find the eco-words and send your answer to 93532 18818. Be the first to submit and get featured in our next newsletter!
Search the Word –
o RECYCLE
o UPCYCLE
o TEXTILE
o COMPOST
o COIR
o SEGREGATION
o AWARENESS
o COMMUNITY
o GREEN
o WASTE
o REUSE
o REDUCE
o PLASTIC
o ECOFRIENDLY
o RENEWABLE
Congratulations to Yamini for being the first to complete our crossword challenge from our previous newsletter! 🎉 Your quick thinking and memory skills have earned you a well-deserved feature in this newsletter. Keep shining!
Erudition Time:
Myth: Biodegradable plastics are always eco-friendly.
While labeled as "biodegradable," many of these plastics require specific industrial conditions to break down, which are not available in most natural environments. If they end up in regular landfills or oceans, they can take years to decompose and still release harmful microplastics⚠️. Whenever possible, choose reusable or compostable options to truly minimize waste!
Do you use plastic liners, including those labeled as biodegradable, for your waste disposal?
Yes, regularly
Occasionally
No, I avoid them
I did not know biodegradables liners could be harmful
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