3. Just outside our school…
WHAT WE SEE
Large dirty dump
yard
Big pile of
garbage
Thick black
smoke
Big trucks that
come and dump
garbage
Animals looking
for food in the
garbage
WHAT WE SMELL
Decaying
matter
Rotting garbage
Burning stench of plastic,
food and other waste
matter
Pungent
malodor of
waste matter
HOW WE FEEL
Uncomfortable
Irritated
Disgusted
Distracted
People
working in
the dump
yard
4. The problems we face
HEADACHE
COUGH
EYE
IRRITATION
BREATHING
DIFFICULTY
EXPOSURE TO
CARCINOGENS
DROP IN
ATTENDANCE
SKIN
PROBLEMS
7. The 4 point action plan
1
2
3
4
TAKING STOCK OF
THE SITUATION
REACH OUT FOR
SUPPORT
SPEAKING TO THE
RIGHT PEOPLE
SUGGEST
SOLUTIONS
8. Taking Stock
We visited the landfill and garbage site expecting a big mess…Even then, nothing could have prepared us
for what we saw.. It was BIGGER, DIRTIER, STINKIER than we imagined….
9. Meet this lady… She collects garbage separating metal parts, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.. After spending
around 10 hours in this dump yard everyday, she visits the government hospital for treatment and
prevention of tetanus
Note how she spends
all day in this mess,
without shoes or even
gloves
10. There are other schools in the same vicinity – Euro Kids and two
government schools: We visited them and spoke to them about the
problem – we discovered that it was a shared sentiment
The software company was also forthcoming and voiced their displeasure
with the landfill
Both Euro Kids as well as the software company joined our cause: They
signed petition letters and promised to send separate letters on behalf of
their administration
Reaching out for Support
It is really disgusting…
We should do
something about it..
- Manager from
software company
We have seen a drop in
new admissions
because of this
- Principal of Euro
Kids
11. With over 200 signatures in the petition, we approached the area
councilor
We spoke to him about the problem and showed him how it had affected
others as well
He promised he would look into the matter and reduce the burning of
garbage for now and relocate the dump yard within three months.
Speaking to the right people
12. The smell had reduced
There was no smoke
The dumping had come
down to only once a
week
Our heads didn’t ache
Our eyes didn’t itch
Our skin didn’t feel dirty
Our breath came easy
The Result – After we came back from
exam break
13. 1. Segregate waste before it goes into the dumping ground – recyclable/bio
degradable/ non recyclable
2. Use waste responsibly, as far as possible
3. Try and treat your own waste through compost tubs, fuel efficiency and recycling
4. Use cloth/paper bags instead of plastic for dumping waste
5. Donate old shoes/gloves/clothes to those working in the waste site
Suggested Solutions
14. What we learnt at the end of it all
IT IS EASY TO TALK THE TALK…ONE NEEDS TO WALK THE WALK IF RESULTS ARE DESIRED
PERSISTENCE PAYS… IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN; YOU CAN
BY JOINING HANDS, YOU CAN HAVE FAR REACHING RESULTS THAT AFFECT A LARGER NUMBER
OF PEOPLE
IF YOU CANNOT BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM
