Waste remains invisible until it becomes a crisis: How Chennai Super Klean turned clean-ups into a movement

CHENNAI: Long before global platforms and organised formats entered the picture, Chennai Super Klean began with a handful of volunteers, a stretch of neglected shoreline and a shared discomfort with looking away. The early days were marked by informal clean-ups, self-funded efforts and the quiet persistence of showing up, regardless of numbers or recognition.

Sharun A is a senior manager – Program Partnerships and Fundraising – during the week. At weekends, he takes responsibility for leading a group of socially responsible individuals who aim to cultivate a sense of ownership among citizens and prove that cleanliness need not be left solely to civic bodies. After many selfless activities, the team represented India at the Spogomi in Tokyo. “We’ve had the opportunity to represent India twice in Japan at the Spogomi World Cup, placing sixth out of 21 teams in 2023 and sixth out of 33 teams in 2025,” Sharun begins.

For the unversed, the Spogomi World Cup was invented in Japan in 2008 to promote environmental awareness and has since evolved into a global competition, with its first World Cup held in Japan in 2023

“Chennai Super Klean is not an organisation, but a team formed around a shared belief that sport can be a powerful medium for environmental action. My entry into Spogomi was deeply personal. In 2023, I first participated alongside my younger brother, Amrit, and an intern from the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), an organisation I’ve been closely associated with since 2012 under the guidance of the founder, Arun Krishnamurthy. I worked across waste management, lake restoration, and community clean-ups, experiences that shaped my understanding of environmental action on the ground. Spogomi felt like a natural extension of the work we were already doing, but with added layers of strategy, discipline, and teamwork,” he says.

Before Spogomi 2025, Sharun brought in two of his friends who shared the same mindset and strong sporting backgrounds, as his brother was unwell. “Manikandan, a national-level surfer from Kovalam whose deep connection with the ocean drives his commitment to marine conservation, and Abishek, a national-level powerlifter and training partner who brings athletic discipline alongside a strong environmental ethic,” adds the lead of Chennai Super Klean.

After winning the finals in India, the team competed against 33 countries in the global arena.

Most clean-up efforts rely on goodwill and one-off volunteering. Competitive formats like Spogomi shift the narrative from obligation to skill, strategy, and teamwork. Sport has a unique ability to bring people together and keep them engaged through healthy competition. “When waste collection is treated like a sport with rules, scoring, time pressure, and coordination, it fundamentally changes perception. Competition doesn’t trivialise the issue; it demands attention,” adds the 27-year-old.

When asked about the key metrics or qualitative indicators Chennai Super Klean uses to measure the impact on communities, behaviour change, and environmental outcomes, Sharun shares, “Within Spogomi, waste collected and how well it is segregated are essential metrics; they determine scoring and help identify winners. The structure itself reinforces awareness around different waste streams and responsible handling. However, from my experience being part of India’s clean-up culture for over a decade, the real long-term outcomes go beyond weight alone. Two of the most important indicators for us are behavioural change and public participation, including engagement from local authorities.”

When it comes to the most significant operational and cultural challenges Sharun has faced, both within the team and in the wider community, he points to sustainability. “Operationally, balancing time, resources, and personal commitments while keeping momentum alive is quite difficult. Since this is not a funded team or movement, everything runs on passion, discipline, and shared values. And, culturally, the normalisation of littering remains a major challenge. Waste is often invisible until it becomes a crisis. Environmental action must be competitive, but also respectful and inclusive.”

Sharun feels that competing internationally highlights how seriously different countries treat civic responsibility. In Japan, waste discipline is embedded in everyday behaviour and supported by systems. ‘It isn’t framed as activism, but as a social norm.' That experience reinforced a key insight for Chennai Super Klean: systems and culture matter as much as intent. It influenced how they think and act locally, shifting their focus from clean-ups to broader conversations around behaviour change, incentives, and enabling systems.

“Representing India also carries a responsibility beyond performance. It’s about honestly showcasing the realities of waste management in a country like ours, while also highlighting the innovation and resilience that exist despite constraints. In my current professional role, I work closely with startups building waste and circular economy solutions. Being on an international platform like Spogomi has allowed me not just to talk about India’s waste challenges, but to share how we’re actively working on solutions, through innovation, entrepreneurship, and on-ground deployment,” he states.

The team is gearing up for the next Spogomi cycle in 2027. However, their ambition goes beyond participation alone. “Personally, I’d like to support the organisation of Spogomi regional qualifiers across more Indian states, and help build towards a larger, more visible national finale. Expanding the geographic spread would bring in new cities, colleges, sports groups, and local communities, significantly increasing reach and awareness. Scaling, for us, doesn’t mean becoming bigger; it means becoming replicable,” he wishes, with the hope of inspiring more people through the movement.