Bengaluru: Discarded water bottles and cigarette packets, predominantly discarded by tech professionals from the adjacent tech park during their post-lunch walks, have long been a source of concern for residents of Manyata Residency Layout. On Saturday, these residents joined forces with civic authorities and volunteer groups for a three-hour clean-up initiative in anticipation of World Environment Day.
Clean-Up Drive Details
The drive, conducted from 6am to 9am, saw the participation of approximately 100 volunteers, including local residents, members from Rotary Manyata, 15–20 students from North Bengaluru High School, and personnel from GBA. A total of 25–30 bags of waste were collected from parks, roadsides, and other identified hotspots within the layout.
Types of Waste Collected
Residents reported that the majority of the waste collected consisted of single-use plastics, water bottles, cigarette packets, and food packaging, which are routinely found strewn across public spaces in the area.
Participants and Collaborators
The clean-up drive brought together resident welfare association members, Rotary Manyata, Rotaract Club of Warriors, Rotaract Club of Silicon City College, and GBA North City Corporation personnel. An environmental awareness session was conducted for students from economically weaker backgrounds, focusing on plastic waste management and sustainable practices. GBA supported the drive by deploying personnel and vehicles for waste collection, transport, and disposal.
Impact and Future Needs
Participants noted that the initiative not only improved cleanliness in the neighbourhood but also underscored the need for stronger coordination between residential communities, civic agencies, and corporate establishments to address Bengaluru's growing plastic waste challenge.
Ravi Kumar V, a resident and member of Manyata Residency Welfare Association, stated: “While this clean-up helped restore the neighbourhood, it also highlighted the scale of the plastic waste problem we face every day. A substantial portion of the litter appears to come from the large number of people commuting to and from the neighbouring tech park. We urge corporate establishments to actively educate their workforce on civic hygiene, responsible plastic use, and proper waste disposal so that the burden of maintaining public spaces does not fall solely on residents and civic agencies.”
