Decluttering Mumbai: A citywide initiative by Mumbaikars

Its that time of the year when you dear reader will stumble upon old issues of this newspaper on your dusty shelves stashed in drawers or lurking under that old cupboard We know where you hide them By that we mean the dreaded Diwali safai days are right around the corner and if yoursquore like this writer we have some good news ReCircle a citybased wastemanagement company is extending a helping hand with a 10daylong dry waste cleanup drive in Mumbai and Navi MumbaiSince 2021 the group has collected nearly 75000 kg of dry waste in the form of paper plastics old textiles ewaste and metals Through their free doortodoor pick up service this festive season the group is encouraging households schools offices and housing societies to join the movementSafaai saathis sort the dry waste at the Malad plant PICS COURTESYRECIRCLE INSTAGRAMThe Herculean task falls on the team and nearly 30 volunteers who will traverse the city covering the Western Central and Harbour Railway lines as well as Navi Mumbai in mini trucks ldquoEach truck is staffed with a volunteer trained in English to navigate and log collections Citizen groups and NGOs have been a huge help in ensuring lastmile connectivity in many areasrdquo ReCircle teamrsquos brand advisor Nikki Gupta explains Mumbaikars can book a slot between October 4 and 14 to hand over their dry waste ldquoWe request citizens to donate materials like cans glass jars ewaste paper clothing and footwear and avoid materials like torn clothes sharp items food and chemicals for the safety of our teamrdquo she urgesREPRESENTATION PICSISTOCKAt the heart of the initiative is a material recovery facility in Malad where nearly 20 lsquosafaai saathisrsquo sort through piles of waste on a semiautomatic factory line before sending it off to thirdparty recyclers ldquoThe group has received some interesting submissions over the years mdash full gym kits clothes with the tags still on even some precious metal jewellery For stuffed toys that are in good condition we let safaai saathis take them home for their childrenrdquo Gupta revealsNikki GuptaChallenges are plenty for the group but the biggest as Gupta puts it is the reluctance of Indians to let go ldquoMost homes have toys in good condition perfectly recyclable paper and loads of plastic waste Hoarding isnrsquot the solutionrdquo Gupta reminds us As a Diwali bonus the group plans to donate all monetary collections from selling the dry waste to St Catherine of Siena School and Orphanage in Bandra West Thatrsquos one way to light up someonersquos DiwaliON October 4 to 14LOG ON TO recirclein to register and book a slotFestival of givingExplore more options to declutter your home in an environmentconscious way Dhyas FoundationThis Vasaibased community collects household waste The community also runs a utensil bank to promote renting of cutlery for parties and gatheringsLOG ON TO dhyasfoundationorgA view of the Gamdevi store PIC COURTESYTURN AROUND SHOP Turn Around ShopDonate your preloved clothes and shoes to this Gamdevibased store If yoursquore dropping by check out some sustainable gifting optionsLOG ON TO turnaroundshopin 5RCycleBook sensitisation sessions for your Diwali party this year where a team will visit your venue for an interactive session on recyclingLOG ON TO 5RCycleHoarders bewareAs households begin the cleaning phase signs of Compulsive Hoarding Disorder are bound to surface According to psychologist Meghna Singhal hoarding canMeghna Singhal Fuel your stress A chaotic environment leads to a chaotic mindset Drain you financially Compound your loneliness due to social isolation Create unsafe conditions including fire hazards Lead to serious family conflictsCompulsive Hoarding Disorder is a recognised mental condition that requires professional attention ldquoHoarders donrsquot hoard simply because they like it It can sometimes come from a deeper place of irrational fears and irregular brain activity Families of the individuals must be supportive and consult professionalsrdquo Singhal says