Plogging to Eco-bricks a journey towards sustainable future
Image source: Pune Poggers
A 24-year-old environmentalist who is a software engineer by profession Vivek Gurav influenced with Plogging which is a Swedish fitness trend that motivates people to clean the environment while jogging has started in Pune in early 2017. Also, people enjoy it because it’s fun.
Vivek with his friends and colleagues runs the ‘Pune Ploggers’ in which till today he took the great initiative in cleaning the environment. With collecting over 100 tonnes of plastic and not only this but also adopted the Mutha River to clean it.
While speaking to India People Blog Vivek said “Plogging has helped us entirely. It is like less time more garbage collection. Initially, I was working with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Alandi in 2015 but, eventually, I saw people getting bored in the campaigns because it’s just random cleaning spots.”
He added, “Then I came across Plogging in 2016, it started in Sweden where people cleaned the environment by collecting garbage, waste, plastic, bottles, litter and every waste while jogging. This was a great idea to initiate cleaning in our environment.”
“Then we started the same in Pune but at that moment it was not so trendy. In the year 2019 in August-September, the Government of India took this initiative to organize fit India Plogging Run, and then we joined it and started Plogging from September.”
Gurav further informed, “I do it regularly, and Plogging is something where we don’t need any organization, plan, or event so I do it with my group of college friends. When we go jogging or for a cup of tea we just pick up the garbage wherever we find. Also, this interests us to do so. On an average 3 to 4 people join me daily sometimes I am alone cleaning up on my way to jogging. On Weekends we have a good response from around 40 to 50 people.”
When asked about what next on the mind of Pune Ploggers Vivek added “currently we are in a target of making one lakh eco-bricks.”
What is an Eco-brick?
Image source: Pune Poggers
‘Eco-Bricks’ these are plastic bottles stuffed with plastic covers and material of plastic to set the volume and strength to utilize them as usual clay bricks in construction. Daily use gadgets, garden areas, furniture, art installations, planters, and much more can be built and fabricated using these eco-friendly bricks.
When asked about the future recycling of plastic of these bricks? Vivek says, “We have modified the purpose and overall design of eco-bricks by innovating an interlocking mechanism to avoid the use of cement or any other bonding material in these crafting that might render all the plastic unworthy of future recycling”.
These Eco-bricks will be used for multiple purposes. When asked about these applications, Khushboo Duggad, an architect by profession who is working on making these bricks sustainable in terms of strength and durability. She has been specifically looking after making the eco-bricks multi-purpose. She is training over 500 participants in this initiative and the target to make “One Lakh Eco-Bricks” is a measurable goal the team has set.
Vivek Gurav is promoting the use of Eco-bricks to stop 2000 Tonnes of Plastic waste going to Landfills, Household waste, especially plastic packing of kitchen stuff and other discards, dumped or mixed with usual waste, accidentally or otherwise, will make their way to landfills and in turn to oceans.
Imagine the intensity of impact this has on life on land and underwater. When we have been seeing reports which are stating facts about how microplastics are impacting humans and the way they have eventually entered our food chain, it brings us back to the question, why is the root cause not being looked upon?
How in the time of pandemic one can help the environment by simple initiative?
During this pandemic, people can utilize their leisure by segregating waste and sort plastic out of it.
The plastic will then be used by the team of Pune Ploggers to make ‘eco-bricks’ which is an amazing idea to start segregating waste and try repurposing plastic for some other cause.
Well, pandemic has affected every sector of the country and so is the case with Pune Ploggers and so was the time when Vivek initiated the concept by addressing the issue of plastic in a very positive way.
Apart from this while collecting the plastic Pune Ploggers have come across many issues such as medical waste, sanitary pads, and much on the list. While speaking on this Vivek said, “the hygiene related to the disposal of sanitary pads many girls are not aware of the Red Dot Campaign. Red Dot Campaign speaks about the sanitary waste, from the dustbin to where it is moved. So the campaign is about wrapping the sanitary pads and marking it with a red dot.
Biomedical waste is another biggest challenge because it can cause infection while collecting.”
‘Pune Ploggers’ has got a special mention by “Mann Ki Baat” as well and the work he has been doing definitely shows how community-led action is a way towards sustainability.
For more third eye stories click here. Also for more daily news updates click here. You may also check the related news stories click here.
Shivanee Thote