Jodie Underhill


Jodie Underhill is the co-founder of Waste Warriors, a non-governmental organisation headquartered in Dehradun, India, that specialises in waste collection and waste management. Her work has led the Indian media to give her the nicknames 'Garbage Girl' and 'Waste Warrior'. She is a British expatriate, and her work in India has brought her recognition in various forms such as the 'Brand Icon Award' by The Times of India and the 'Green Hero Award' by .

Background

Born in Great Yarmouth, England, Jodie completed her schooling from Oakbank School, Keighley, England. She worked as a fundraising assistant and volunteer coordinator for charities such as Rossendale Hospice, a receptionist, a personal assistant and a legal editor after which she spent the majority of her twenties travelling the world and came to India in December 2008 as a tourist. After visiting Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Kanyakumari, in 2009 she reached the Tibetan Children’s Village in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, where she had volunteered to conduct letter-writing workshops for sponsorship secretaries. She was upset that Dharamsala’s pristine beauty was being marred by big mounds of garbage and decided to do something about this, which eventually led her to organising cleaning drives.

Projects

Mountain Cleaners

Jodie Underhill established Mountain Cleaners in 2009 to provide and promote sustainable waste management systems in Dharamsala and Dehradun. The organisation works with local people and businesses, schools, government organisations, NGOs and schools to provide sustainable waste management solutions, ensuring that rubbish is disposed of correctly and as much of it as possible is reused or recycled. She resigned from Mountain Cleaners in August 2012.

Waste Warriors

was registered in September 2012 with Jodie Underhill as a co-founder. The organisation is now supported by Executive Managing Committee and has done extensive work in the area of waste collection, waste management and waste consultancy. Waste Warriors’ has also conducted various educational programs on the environment in over 90 schools funded by Microsoft. The Mahindra Group is a significant benefactor of Waste Warriors and has shown support by donating vehicles and sponsoring the entire Corbett project launched by Waste Warriors. Various other initiatives including a cow shelter, a Cow Helpline, and a cow adoption scheme.

Recognition