The Government Senior Secondary School in Khanyara, Dharamshala is a wonderful example of the power that enhancing infrastructure has on behavior change. It is not just an ordinary school which provides students with textbook-education. It has taken the role of empowering its students with the right resources towards participating in responsible waste management.
It is the responsibility of the school and parents to educate the students on the importance of not littering. However, the assistance of external stakeholders like Waste Warriors and our expertise is essential to accelerate the learning process. In partnership with Waste Warriors, the Government Senior Secondary School has implemented the installation of dry waste gullaks, bins, and leaf composting pits. The new waste disposal system is teaching the students the valuable skill of waste segregation.
To facilitate effective waste management, gullaks were set up in four schools of Dharamshala. These special bins with proper labeling and information enable segregated waste disposal. These bins have also significantly reduced single-use plastic waste. Glasses, quarter plates, serving trays, water campers, and jugs were also introduced to instill the values of reusing and reducing. Beyond this, a leaf composting unit and pit composting instill a green ethos, fostering environmental responsibility early in kids. Through these initiatives, Waste Warriors instills practical waste management practices while cultivating a culture of environmental stewardship from a young age, nurturing a generation of eco-conscious citizens poised to make a lasting impact on the world around them.
One student remarked: “Our school got these cool dustbins from Didis and Bhaiyas of Waste Warriors. Every time I have a piece of trash, even something as small as a toffee wrapper, I ensure it ends up in the right bin. When my friends forget, I remind them. It’s like a little game for me, matching the trash with the bin,” Janav Kashyap, Class 7th.
This demonstrates the lasting effect that infrastructure creation can have on behavioral change. By enhancing school waste management systems, Waste Warriors is reshaping attitudes toward waste management for the upcoming generation.
