A business model created out of garbage

From recycling paper to raw material for laying roads to creating entrepreneurship models centred around waste pickers, there is an increased focus on finding newer ways to economise solid waste generated in our cities. 

Kabeer Haroon, Managing Director of Clean Kerala Company, said the Kerala government’s recent order states that 10% of the road construction should utilise shredded plastic waste. This has created an opportunity for alternative use of plastic, which is a major environmental threat. This business model also generates revenue by providing shredded plastic for the construction of roads. 

“We have supplied 17 tonnes of shredded plastic and we expect the demand to only increase in the future. Currently, there are only 13 shredding units. Our plans include setting up material recovery units all across Kerala and installation of shredding machines at urban local bodies. This model also creates employment opportunities and prevents pollution by plastic,” he said at the Centre for Science and Environment’s ‘Not in my Backyard: Solid Waste Management in Indian Cities’ panel discussion. 

In Bengaluru, the key to waste management was through the largely ignored network of waste pickers. Nalini Shekar, Director for Hasiru Dala, said they are working with the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika) to integrate these informal waste entrepreneurs. 

“There are 25,000 waste pickers in Bengaluru and 7,500 have received an ID card from the Corporation. The waste pickers have been roped in for the management and operation of 40 dry waste collection centres (DWCC). We have also signed an MOU with the Corporation for the management and operation of 190 DWCC by the waste pickers, overseen by an NGO,” said the activist. 

In Chennai too, self-help groups are being roped in to create an economy around waste. Mangalam Balasubramaniam, Chairman of Exnora Green Pammal, said they have set up kiosks to retail compost and other such products. 

“We are working with the authorities and local communities and many other corporate firms. In Pammal, we have implemented door-to-door collection of segregated garbage and the wet waste is sent for composting and dry waste for recycling. We have set up a handloom factory to recycle thin plastic to create files, window screens, cushion covers and others,” she concluded.