PUNE: Keeping your area clean is not only the responsibility of the city administration, but you too are responsible for it. Keeping this in mind, a techie, Vivek Gurav started Pune Ploggers (a concept popular in Sweden where while jogging or during morning walk, you clear the trash you see on the path). Started in September, they have completed 12 weeks and more than 50 plogging runs in the city. 

In 12 weeks they have collected 1,200 kg plastic and 4,000 kg trash. Apart from trash, they have also collected 2,000 beer bottles which they gave to Sarthi - a women’s self-help group at Alandi, to make decorative items. 

“There are quite a good number of people in the city who go for a morning jog or walk and mobilising them in one more activity like a clean-up drive is one of the best things. This plogging started in September and after 12 weeks, we completed more than 50 plogging runs and almost 100 people have participated. We have also collected 2,000 beer bottles which we have given to Sarthi to create decorative items,” said Gurav.

The participants of Pune Ploggers conduct the cleanliness drive every weekend on Saturday and Sunday.  “Every weekend 20 to 22 ploggers which includes students, senior citizens, school students etc participate in it. In 12 weeks, we have collected 1,200 kg plastic and 4,000 kg  trash which we give to the Solid Waste Department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), local recyclers and Swachh.”

Sakshi Satpute, member of Sarthi, felt the bottles given by Gurav helped them add another item to their product range. She said, “Sarthi is a self-help group of women who work from home and make decorative items, clothes, jewellery etc. With these bottles, we have added one more product and provided an additional income to the women.”

One volunteer of Pune Ploggers, Bushan More, an engineering student, said, “I am part of this initiative since the fifth week and conducted cleanliness drive at Dighi hills and Baner Hills. It was an innovative concept, where while walking or running you can collect the plastic. It has fitness factor and you can contribute for the society.” PMC Solid Waste Department Joint Municipal Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Molak said, “Pune Ploggers have been doing a great job. The Solid Waste Management Department does collect the trash from them which goes for recycling at our plants.”