HDB Financial Services and Centre for Environment Education install trash barriers to prevent floating waste pollution in Chennai waterways

Chennai, Feb 28: In a focused effort to prevent floating waste from entering Chennai’s waterbodies and protect the city’s drainage and coastal ecosystems, HDB Financial Services (HDBFS), in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), has launched the Trash Shield initiative at Buckingham Canal through the installation of innovative trash barriers and community-led waste management interventions.

In collaboration with local civic bodies and community stakeholders, the collected waste is manually removed at regular intervals, segregated, and transported to approved Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for safe disposal, recycling, and sorting. This ensures waste does not re-enter the ecosystem while strengthening local waste management systems through structured recovery processes.

The initiative aims to achieve an estimated 50% reduction in visible floating waste pollution at targeted locations, enable the collection of 80–100 tonnes of floating waste annuallyand improve water quality parameters by around 30%supporting the restoration of aquatic biodiversity. Additionally, by reducing drain blockages caused by floating waste accumulation, the initiative contributes to lowering flood risk and enhancing the resilience of Chennai’s urban water infrastructure.

Commenting on HDB Financial Services’ support for the project, Ashish Ghatnekar, Chief People & Operations, HDB Financial Services said Sustainability for us goes beyond environmental protection it is about building systems that enable communities to participate in preserving shared resources. By supporting the Trash Shield initiative in Chennai, HDB Financial Services is contributing to cleaner waterways while encouraging responsible waste practices at the community level. Collaborating with CEE allows us to combine infrastructure solutions with awareness and behaviour change, creating lasting impact for urban ecosystems.”

Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Preeti R. Kanaujia, Senior Programme Director, CEE said, “Urban canals like the Buckingham Canal play a critical role in Chennai’s drainage and coastal ecology. Through this intervention, we aim to stop plastic waste before it reaches the sea while working closely with local communities and authorities to promote sustainable waste management practices.”

The Trash Shield initiative has been rolled out across multiple locations in India, with canal and waterbody restoration projects already executed across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.