Project Hilldaari

Clean Environment: Emphasis on Waste Management

We are working towards developing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable waste management models in popular tourist cities through its CSR Project Hilldaari. Over the past six years, the collaborative spirit of Project Hilldaari, in partnership with PLAN Foundation and Recity India Private Limited, and previously Stree Mukti Sanghatana, has fostered inclusive and resilient waste management systems in 9 Indian tourist hotspots – Mussoorie, Dalhousie, Ponda, Mahabaleshwar, Munnar, Darjeeling, Palampur and the newest additional being Junagadh and Panchgani. Across the initial 7 cities, with diligent source segregation efforts, 12,758 MT of waste have been successfully diverted from landfill. The widespread engagement has led to ~79% source segregation rate across a network of 69,700 residential and commercial waste collection points.

Project Hilldaari fosters a strong sense of unity and collective responsibility among citizens. Through a collaborative network involving municipal councils, associations, residents, contractors, and influencers, the initiative has brought professionalization to approximately 1,303 sanitation workers. These essential workers have also received training to become agents of change, promoting effective waste management practices within their communities. Furthermore, the project ensures their well-being by providing occupational IDs, health insurance, and essential protective equipment.

 

Project Hilldaari actively promotes behaviour change within communities to encourage responsible waste management practices and maintain a clean city. This citizen engagement is integral to strengthening the city's solid waste management efforts and building long-term capacity for sustainable urban and rural environments.