School Name

This story is inspired by a report from the Fox Chapel Herald about Shady Side Academy junior Kabeer C. and his environmental nonprofit, GreenBridge412. Full credit goes to the original article for providing key details.

Shady Side Academy junior Kabeer C. is leading the charge for environmental responsibility with his nonprofit initiative, GreenBridge412. Founded last year, GreenBridge412 provides a free recycling service for residents of Fox Chapel and surrounding communities, filling a critical gap in local waste management. Since its launch, the program has grown to over 150 clients and has recycled hundreds of pounds of materials, including glass, batteries, and plastics.

Kabeer personally visits clients’ homes on Sundays to collect items, ensuring they are responsibly recycled. Batteries are dropped off at Staples, glass is taken to a recycling bin in O’Hara, and plastics are donated to Giant Eagle.

“Without me picking it up, it would end up in a landfill,” said Kabeer. “That would be worse for the environment.”

With support from family, community members, and local organizations, Kabeer’s efforts have already made a measurable impact. To date, GreenBridge412 has recycled 211 pounds of plastic, 642 pounds of plastic packaging, and 334 pounds of household batteries.

Kabeer’s mother, Gauri Kapoor, encouraged him to pursue the initiative, believing that community involvement is key to fostering change.

“I always thought that it’s great if kids can contribute to the community that they live in,” Kapoor said. “Sometimes it’s helpful to see what else we can do to make our communities better.”

Kabeer’s leadership extends beyond GreenBridge412. In September, he was sworn in as a junior council member for Fox Chapel, a position he earned thanks to his demonstrated commitment to community service and environmental sustainability.

Councilman Brad Harrison, who nominated Kabeer, praised his work ethic and leadership style. “Because of his efforts and dedication not only in starting up a nonprofit to close the recycling gap in our community, but also due to his well-rounded nature in and out of school, Kabeer was a top candidate.”

As GreenBridge412 continues to grow, Kabeer is seeking volunteers to help expand the program’s reach. Volunteers can set their own schedules, and Kabeer ensures the logistics of client pickups are simple and flexible.

“Anybody that’s willing to help make a difference,” he said. “It can really be any day to collect the stuff. It’s whenever they’re available.”

Interested individuals can sign up as volunteers or clients through the nonprofit’s website, greenbridge412.com, or by contacting 412-426-5311 or emailing contact@greenbridge412.com. 

Read the full story on the Fox Chapel Herald website here.