Recycle Resolutions: Bengaluru Initiative Revives Sustainable Habits Through Rap Videos
As the new year progresses and resolutions often fade, a city-wide initiative in Bengaluru is reminding residents that meaningful environmental change can stem from habits they already practice. The Recycle Resolutions campaign, featuring musician Vasu Dixit and digital creator Aiyyo Shraddha, leverages rap-led videos to highlight simple waste management actions that can significantly improve recyclability and protect waste pickers.
Spotlighting Everyday Waste Practices
The videos focus on practical steps such as rinsing food containers before disposal and properly marking sanitary waste. These small, daily actions are designed to enhance recycling efficiency and safeguard the dignity of those handling waste. Vasu Dixit explains that the initiative feels like a natural extension of his long-standing engagement with waste practices. "We keep making new resolutions, hoping they will change our lives, and then forget the old ones. This is about reminding ourselves that even resolutions need to be recycled," he says.
Aiyyo Shraddha agrees, noting that the campaign's strength lies in avoiding drastic lifestyle overhauls. "People don't need another big change thrown at them. The actions highlighted here were already part of our lives—they just needed to be done more consciously. When the change is small and doable, people are far more likely to stick with it," she emphasizes. She adds that since waste is generated daily, even a one-minute improvement in handling it can create a massive downstream difference.
A Gentle Nudge Towards Better Behavior
Shraddha was careful to frame the message without drama or guilt. "I didn't want to present this as something revolutionary or guilt-driven. It's more like a friend nudging you and saying, 'Hey, if you can just do this...' People are intelligent and empathetic. You don't have to shame them into being decent human beings," she states. Vasu supports this approach, adding, "Everybody already knows these things. It's not about alarming people or pointing fingers. It's about reminding ourselves—through engaging formats—to keep doing the right things." He believes that being a responsible citizen begins at one's doorstep, not ends there.
Understanding the Impact of Waste
Vasu's involvement with waste issues extends beyond awareness campaigns. He highlights the reality faced by waste pickers: "From our homes, we throw one dabba and forget it. But waste pickers deal with hundreds every day—often unwashed, leaking, and hazardous. Once waste leaves your house, it doesn't vanish. It lands somewhere." Shraddha points out that neglect often stems from thoughtlessness rather than malicious intent. "We don't do it intentionally, but we're just consumed by our own lives. But taking one extra minute can completely change what someone else has to deal with," she explains.
Using Influence for Positive Change
Both creators view their public platforms as tools to normalize better behavior without being dictatorial. Vasu believes that even limited influence carries responsibility. "I look up to sportspersons and how they live. In the same way, if people are listening to my music, it's important to use that medium responsibly," he says. Shraddha notes that influencers can model everyday responsibility effectively. "When creators tell people exactly what they can do—without shaming them—it becomes genuinely useful," she concludes.
This initiative underscores how small, consistent actions in waste management can lead to significant environmental and social benefits, encouraging Bengalureans to integrate sustainability into their daily routines.
