Page 62 - CIJ June 2025-Digital Edition

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Case Study:

Mechanised Management of

Urban Litter in Public Spaces

Abstract go consumption of food friendly litter picker designed
and tobacco led to constant
specifically for crowded and high-
Urban public spaces — markets, accumulation of plastic footfall public areas. Its features
parks, transit hubs, and educational wrappers, sachets, disposable include:
institutions — are increasingly cups, and cigarette butts • Rapid and thorough collection
burdened by litter, particularly (Cigarette filters contain toxic of small waste items such as
non-biodegradable and non- chemicals that fragment into wrappers, cups, and cigarette
recyclable waste. This pollution microplastics, contaminating filters.
not only detracts from city water and soil).
aesthetics but also poses severe • Narrow Lanes and Congestion: • Compact design for navigating
environmental risks, including Limited access for large tight, pedestrian-heavy spaces.
microplastic contamination and cleaning equipment made deep • Ergonomic and dust-free
ecosystem degradation. Manual cleaning ineffective. operation reduces strain on
cleaning methods often fall short sanitation workers.
in managing the volume and • Inadequate Waste Disposal • Zero emissions and low noise,
complexity of this waste. This Infrastructure: The lack of contributing to cleaner and
dustbins and limited public
article explores how Gobbler, awareness contributed to quieter cities.
an innovative mechanized litter- improper disposal behaviour.
picking solution, enhances waste Insights from Waste
collection efficiency, reduces • Manual Sweeping Limitations:
environmental impact, and provides Labor-intensive, slow, and Collected Using
valuable data to inform sustainable unhygienic, manual cleaning Gobbler
urban sanitation policies. could not keep up with litter
accumulation during peak Over a 30-day period in public
Site Overview hours. areas of Karol Bagh and Tilak
Nagar (15 days each), a Gobbler
Karol Bagh and Tilak Nagar • Environmental Impact: Waste machine collected and contributed
are two of Delhi’s most vibrant often blew into drains and to the audit of 64,788 waste items
green spaces, contributing to
commercial and residential waterlogging, foul odour, and amounting to an astonishing 15,463
localities. Known for their bustling microplastic contamination. kilograms, revealing the following:
markets, narrow lanes, and dense
foot traffic, both areas grapple daily Intervention: Machine Top Littered Products (by item
with street litter, especially from count):
small vendors, street food joints, Deployment • Paper Cups: 26,897
and shoppers. Despite regular In response, the Municipal • Polythene Bags: 17,829
municipal sweeping, persistent Corporation of Delhi awarded a
waste issues — especially non- contract for the deployment of • Tobacco-related Items: 10,933
recyclable and hazardous litter — battery-operated suction machines • Pan Masala Sachets: 2,995
were degrading the cleanliness and to clean public spaces across the • Snack Packaging: 2,515 &
public perception of these zones. city. As part of this initiative, the others
Gobbler Litter Picker was deployed
The Problem in Karol Bagh, Tilak Nagar, and six By Category:
In both locations, traditional other high-footfall locations. • Food & Beverage Packaging:
cleaning methods were falling short 26,481 items
due to the following challenges: Gobbler Advantage • Household and Personal Use
• High Footfall and Continuous Developed by Cosmic Healers, Items: 27,277 items
Waste Generation: On-the- Gobbler is a mechanized, eco- • Tobacco Products: 10,933 items
62 JUNE 2025•Clean India Journal•www.cleanindiajournal.com