Since 1992, the Tibetan Settlement Office (TSO) has taken a keen interest in the local environment, which was being spoiled by indiscriminate dumping of wastes in the area. In June 1994, TSO voluntarily started a waste collection and recycling programme called " Clean Upper Dharamsala Project (CUDP)". This programme consists of collecting recyclable and non-recyclable wastes from hotels, shops, offices, schools and homes which are sorted and then recycled elsewhere in Punjab State.

The Green Workers are the back bone of the CUDP, who collect dry/recyclable wastes from door to door in Mcleodganj. Initially, Green Workers had to carry more than 60 kg of collected wastes for 8 to 10 km a day.

With the introduction of trucks in 2003, the work has become much more efficient, and waste collection coverage has increased from once a week to 3 days a week per household. The workers deliver these solid wastes, such as papers, clothes, metals, glasses, plastics, etc., to the segregation center for further processing. The rest of the garbage such as kitchen & mixed wastes are also collected door to door by a separate truck, and then gets disposed at the dumpsite in Lower Dharamsala which is maintained by the Municipal Council, Dharamsala (MCD).