Together, we are not just imagining a greener world

· Waste Wise Cities

· World Cleanup Day 2020: Campaign launched to manage litter caused by cigarette butts

· Kick (starting) the butt waste campaign

What if the solution to everyday littering could fit right in your pocket?

With this powerful question in mind, the Let’s Do It India Foundation (LDII) launched a simple yet game-changing initiative: the “Trash Pocket” campaign. This small piece of cloth, designed to be carried in your bag or pinned to your clothes, became a powerful symbol of personal accountability, hygiene, and environmental responsibility.

The idea was born during the pandemic when public health, hygiene, and sanitation were top priorities. With masks, tissues, and wrappers being disposed of carelessly in public places, LDII saw an opportunity to introduce a cultural shift—where people carry their own trash until a proper dustbin is found, rather than tossing it on the street.

The Foundation’s teams began by introducing the Trash Pocket in schools, colleges, and urban settlements. Thousands of reusable pockets were distributed, each stitched locally and tailored to be both functional and sustainable. But it wasn’t just about distribution—the campaign was rooted in education.

LDII volunteers held interactive workshops, street plays, and awareness drives that emphasized the public health risks of littering, especially in densely populated cities. People were shown how even a single used tissue or candy wrapper could contaminate surroundings and spread disease. The Trash Pocket became a tool for behavioral transformation, encouraging people to view waste not as a government problem, but as a personal responsibility.

The initiative received international recognition when it was featured in UN-Habitat’s Water and Sanitation Newsletter, which described it as a “grassroots model of daily responsibility that bridges the gap between environmental action and public health.” This global spotlight further validated LDII’s belief: that change doesn’t always require billion-dollar budgets—it can start with something as small as a cloth pocket.

In communities where LDII deployed the Trash Pocket, a visible shift began to take place. Local shopkeepers began keeping separate bins for masks and tissues. Schools introduced daily waste tracking for students. Sanitation workers reported a noticeable reduction in littered soft waste. More importantly, the dignity of those working in waste collection was upheld by reducing direct contact with hazardous personal trash.