Abstract
Urban public spaces — markets, parks, transit hubs, and educational institutions — are increasingly burdened by litter, particularly non-biodegradable and non-recyclable waste. This pollution not only detracts from city aesthetics but also poses severe environmental risks, including microplastic contamination and ecosystem degradation. Manual cleaning methods often fall short in managing the volume and complexity of this waste. This article explores how Gobbler, an innovative mechanized litter-picking solution, enhances waste collection efficiency, reduces environmental impact, and provides valuable data to inform sustainable urban sanitation policies.
Site Overview
Karol Bagh and Tilak Nagar are two of Delhi’s most vibrant commercial and residential localities. Known for their bustling markets, narrow lanes, and dense foot traffic, both areas grapple daily with street litter, especially from small vendors, street food joints, and shoppers. Despite regular municipal sweeping, persistent waste issues — especially non-recyclable and hazardous litter — were degrading the cleanliness and public perception of these zones.
The Problem
In both locations, traditional cleaning methods were falling short due to the following challenges:
• High Footfall and Continuous Waste Generation: On-the-go consumption of food and tobacco led to constant accumulation of plastic wrappers, sachets, disposable cups, and cigarette butts (Cigarette filters contain toxic chemicals that fragment into microplastics, contaminating water and soil).
• Narrow Lanes and Congestion: Limited access for large cleaning equipment made deep cleaning ineffective.
• Inadequate Waste Disposal Infrastructure: The lack of dustbins and limited public awareness contributed to improper disposal behaviour.
• Manual Sweeping Limitations: Labor-intensive, slow, and unhygienic, manual cleaning could not keep up with litter accumulation during peak hours.
• Environmental Impact: Waste often blew into drains and green spaces, contributing to waterlogging, foul odour, and microplastic contamination.
Intervention: Machine Deployment
In response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi awarded a contract for the deployment of battery-operated suction machines to clean public spaces across the city. As part of this initiative, the Gobbler Litter Picker was deployed in Karol Bagh, Tilak Nagar, and six other high-footfall locations.
Gobbler Advantage
Developed by Cosmic Healers, Gobbler is a mechanized, eco-friendly litter picker designed specifically for crowded and high-footfall public areas. Its features include:
• Rapid and thorough collection of small waste items such as wrappers, cups, and cigarette filters.
• Compact design for navigating tight, pedestrian-heavy spaces.
• Ergonomic and dust-free operation reduces strain on sanitation workers.
• Zero emissions and low noise, contributing to cleaner and quieter cities.
Insights from Waste Collected Using Gobbler
Over a 30-day period in public areas of Karol Bagh and Tilak Nagar (15 days each), a Gobbler machine collected and contributed to the audit of 64,788 waste items amounting to an astonishing 15,463 kilograms, revealing the following:
Top Littered Products (by item count):
• Paper Cups: 26,897
• Polythene Bags: 17,829
• Tobacco-related Items: 10,933
• Pan Masala Sachets: 2,995
• Snack Packaging: 2,515 & others
By Category:
• Food & Beverage Packaging: 26,481 items
• Household and Personal Use Items: 27,277 items
• Tobacco Products: 10,933 items
By Packaging Material:
• Paperboard: 28,775 items
• Multi-Layer Plastics (MLP): 13,209 items
• LDPE Films & Pouches: 11,345 items
• PET Plastics: 4,264 items
These materials represent the most persistent, non-recyclable, and harmful litter types clogging urban infrastructure.
Environmental Relevance
Many of the waste types collected by Gobbler have high environmental persistence:
• MLP and LDPE packaging is lightweight but non-recyclable and often ends up in drains or green belts.
• Cigarette filters and polystyrene products (foam cups/plates) are toxic, fragment into microplastics, and pose a threat to public health and biodiversity.
• Even paperboard, while biodegradable, contributes to waste load if not properly managed.
Impact and Learnings
Operational Benefits:
• Gobbler enables four times faster collection rates than manual sweeping in crowded spaces.
• Reduces worker fatigue and exposure to hazardous or unhygienic waste.
• Enhances the visual appeal of sanitation efforts compared to conventional broom-and-pan methods.
Behavioural & Policy Implications:
• Majority of waste was unbranded, indicating informal packaging use.
• Urban authorities must enforce waste labelling, provide segregation bins, and run public awareness campaigns.
Step Toward Smart Sanitation
The Gobbler deployment in the public spaces of Karol Bagh and Tilak Nagar showcases the value of targeted, mechanized litter management in complex urban environments. By combining data-backed waste collection with ergonomic operation, Gobbler is enabling smarter and more sustainable sanitation practices in Indian cities.
As Indian cities strive to meet Swachh Bharat goals and modernise their sanitation infrastructure, technologies like Gobbler offer a critical edge in making public spaces cleaner, safer, and more sustainable.