Since my return to the states I’ve had several supporters come forward offering to help spread the word about the work I am doing. From help with editing my project video (still in the works) to offers to have me speak in front of small communities about the importance of SWM, my goals seem to have really reached people.

This has inspired me to work with a few other individuals at the local Hindu Mandir in order to develop a recycling and composting scheme to benefit the community. After consulting with the temple management and kitchen volunteers we began our new program a few weeks before Ram Navami. Immediate responses from the community were enthusiastic, though some expressed understandable doubt that we could maintain such a program.

While indeed we have had set backs and challenges, everyone who is organizing the program is deeply committed to getting it to work. In India I witnessed many examples of people’s tireless effort against laziness, fear of change and apathy and I’m trying to bring some of that home with me. While in India a few people I spoke with expressed their doubt that anyone could learn anything positive about waste management from India but I knew from the start that on a local level, individuals and small groups set a powerful example for how to move forward. It’s not earth shattering, but it’s something.

The most enthusiastic of all for our new trash separation program have been the kids. They seem to see it as a game, and given the proper motivation (and sanitation gloves) seem eager to participate. Each week “Green Leaders”- both adults and children – are chosen to help separate recyclables and compost during the busy lunch hour. The temple is also slowly phasing out the use of harmful styrofoam lunch trays and cups in favor of compostable equivalents.

It was my research into India’s Solid Waste management challenges that introduced me to the importance of separation at source. In the weeks to come we plan on creating educational content for the community on how to recycle in the mandir as well as why it’s so important. Bad habits die hard and I keep encouraging my friends at the mandir not to give in or lose heart. I think sometimes stubbornness can be a virtue if aimed in the right direction.