When plastic waste turns into park fun

People have stopped sitting together outdoors, noted environmentalist Swami Prem Parivartan, also known as Peepal Baba, at KR Mangalam World School on Friday. "Hanging out in parks among the trees instead of in air-conditioned cafes should be the new cool. People must interact with nature more and Delhi needs more parks," added Jain.

He was speaking as a guest of honour at the culmination of the "YiPPee! Better World: Create Magic" initiative launched by Sunfeast YiPPee! in collaboration with The Times of India to upcycle plastic waste into playground equipment for city parks.

The initiative envisaged collaboration with municipal bodies in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata and Bengaluru and inviting citizens to vote for the top four parks they wished to see transformed in their cities. Following the identification of the parks through this process, in Delhi, the Lodhi Colony Central Park, Maharaja Soorsaini Park in Hauz Khas, R Block Central Park in Greater Kailash I and Silver Oak Park in Jangpura have got park equipment like swings, see-saws, jungle gyms and benches, all made from upcycled plastic.

A similar installation of play equipment in four parks each in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, the initiative with NGO partner, Recycle India, used up around 11,120kg of plastic waste. Citizens were encouraged not only to vote for their choice of park, but also to contribute to plastic waste collection at designated collection centres in each city. India's 1.4 billion citizens generate 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily.

Suresh Chand, vice-president & head of marketing, Snacks Noodles & Pasta, ITC Ltd, said, "At its core, YiPPee! has always encouraged 'The Better Way' of doing things. Through 'YiPPee! Better World: Create Magic', we wanted to spread awareness about climate-positive actions and demonstrate innovative ways in which plastic waste post-consumption could be utilised to deliver consumer delight in ways that are tangible."

Peepal Baba, founder of Give Me Trees Trust, and his team have planted over 20 million trees in 18 states in India. "This initiative is amazing as it shows us how to recycle plastic waste creatively by turning it into park equipment. YiPPee! and TOI should make this campaign bigger and ensure 1,00,000 park benches every year," said Peepal Baba.

Underling his philosophy of "magic is nothing but action", he encouraged students to reduce their carbon footprint through everyday choices, such as using sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and opting for eco-friendly transportation. "I refuse to use plastic bottles and cups. I always carry my steel bottle and cup, which is more sustainable, and I travel by bike and metro instead of a four-wheel vehicle," he revealed.

While not everyone can plant trees in forests, urban tree parks are essential in this regard, he said. It is our responsibility to create more green spaces in urban areas to enhance the quality of life that simultaneously addresses environmental challenges.

"Make field visits, reserve your weekends to plant a tree, do meaningful work for the well-being of the environment," Peepal Baba exhorted. People are so restless that they should consciously take time out to visit parks, sit on benches, interact with others and have important discussions on topics like global warming and their roles in mitigating its repercussions.

He rued that the young generation was barely aware of the plant and animal species unique to their city. There should be nature interpretation centres in the parks to impart such knowledge to the youngsters and keep them attuned with nature.

Peepal Baba reiterated that govt had enough funds to create more forests, but the intent was lukewarm. Individuals, therefore, should come together and take baby steps toward a sustainable future.

School students at the event were inspired. "I will make sure that we separate the dry and wet waste at home," promised Class VIII student Akash. "And I will go out and play in the park more often when it's not too hot outside." Rohan said, "I'm going to Manali for summer vacation with my parents. I will take some saplings and plant them in the hills as advised by Peepal Baba." Another student, Priyanka, too had decided on a personal action. "I see plastic bottles and utensils being used in our kitchen. I'll ask my mother to get rid of them and replace them with steel ones or those made of biodegradable materials."

An electrifying djembe performance ended the day, with everyone in sync with the beats of the ancient drum that seemed to call Earth's people to action to save their planet.


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