Under Project Prakriti, Development Alternatives, in support with HUL Prabhat, carried out a door-to-door awareness campaign on household waste segregation across three villages (Rakhram Singh, Nikoowal, and Kirpalpur) in Block Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh. The campaign ran from 9 September to 23 September 2025, engaging local residents directly in their homes.

Source segregation plays a very significant role in sustainable waste management. Improving segregation requires multiple aspects, such as streamlined collection facilities, awareness efforts, and enforcement measures, but achieving the last mile of behaviour change remains the most difficult. Targeted and immersive social behaviour change campaigns, like the one implemented by the DA team in Nalagarh, are essential to bridge this gap.

The initiative aimed to improve source segregation of wet and dry waste in three villages of Kirpalpur Panchayat. A team of community volunteers and DA project staff made multiple visits to 632 households during the campaign period. Using relatable examples such as turning their own kitchen scraps into compost, live demonstrations of the use of colour-coded bins, and interactive question-and-answer sessions, the team encouraged families to adopt better waste practices.

The effort delivered measurable change within just two weeks. In Rakhram Singh, segregation levels rose from 70% to 90%. Nikoowal saw an impressive jump from 55% to 80%, while Kirpalpur improved from 45% to 77%. Together, the three villages achieved an average segregation rate of more than 90%, showing how targeted campaigns can shift community habits in a short span. Residents now separate wet and dry waste more consistently, enabling cleaner collection and reducing landfill loads.

The campaign demonstrates that continuous community interaction and practical demonstrations can dramatically improve waste-management behaviour. Monthly follow-ups are planned to maintain and build upon this progress.