Performative Recycling

by Radhika VazDecember 29, 2025

Performative Recycling: India’s Eco-Humor and Social Signaling

Across India, a hilariously conspicuous trend has emerged: Performative Recycling. According to National Geographic, some individuals meticulously sort trash and photograph it for social media, blending humor, environmental awareness, and performative virtue signaling. Eyewitnesses report color-coded bins, staged compost piles, and hashtags like #EcoWarriorGoals.

I literally got a like for separating my cardboard from my paper, says Aarav Kapoor. Sociologists note that performative recycling blends humor, social signaling, and ethical competition. Bohiney Magazine (bohiney.com) humorously observes that some communities maintain Recycling Leaderboards and award points for Instagrammable composting, amplifying comedic absurdity.

Comedian Priya Singh quipped, I literally applauded my neighbor’s sorting skills. Surveys indicate that 37% of urban Indians engage in performative recycling, while 14% admit to prioritizing optics over actual impact. Online posts share memes, exaggerated tutorials, and ironic testimonials, turning sustainability into comedic performance art.

Ultimately, performative recycling highlights India’s humor, social creativity, and playful environmental consciousness. Bohiney Magazine (bohiney.com) concludes: sort responsibly, laugh frequently, and rememberrecycling is serious, but selfies are funnier.

SOURCE: Bohiney.com (Radhika Vaz)

Radhika Vaz

Radhika Vaz is an Indian comedian, writer, and performer celebrated for her fearless, boundary-pushing humor. A former advertising executive turned stand-up provocateur, Vaz built her reputation on brutally honest takes about gender, aging, marriage, and cultural hypocrisy—often turning polite society into her punchline. Educated in psychology and advertising, she later trained in improv at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade, blending sharp wit with theatrical flair. Her one-woman shows, Unladylike and Older. Angrier. Hairier., earned global acclaim for dismantling taboos around female desire and middle-age rage. Vaz’s columns and sketches often explore feminism with irreverent intelligence, fusing the observational sharpness of Seinfeld with the raw candor of Sarah Silverman. Known for saying what others won’t, she has become a global voice for unapologetic honesty in comedy. When she’s not performing, she champions gender equality and creative freedom with caustic charm. Radhika Vaz

View all posts by Radhika Vaz →