India

India’s waste management challenges are multi-faceted. With a rapidly growing population centred in dense urban areas, current systems are struggling to cope. Although new laws and regulations are coming in, the vast majority of waste still ends up in open dumpsites and landfills – impacting public health, the environment and economic prosperity.

WasteAid has a small but growing presence in Guwahati City, Assam. Together with our partners, we are accelerating local circular economy innovation to divert waste and keep resources in the loop for as long as possible, while generating livelihood opportunities.

Why is WasteAid here?

Guwahati is the largest city in North Eastern India. But with just one waste disposal dumpsite and no formal recycling services, more than one million residents rely on the services of waste pickers to keep recyclable materials out of the environment and into the local economy.

On the Human Development Index, India ranks 131 out of 189 countries, with significant gender inequality and high unemployment rates. Although the country is working towards the Sustainable Development Goals, it faces further challenges in public health as well as in the development of sustainable cities and communities.

Currently, the vast majority of collected waste is disposed of in uncontrolled dumpsites. In April 2022, three dumpsites in Delhi experienced fire outbreaks, with significant negative health impacts for those living nearby. The best way to avoid the harmful legacy of dumpsites is to collect waste materials and keep them in the loop with recycling or composting.

Providing business mentorship programmes and funding opportunities to local circular economy and recycling entrepreneurs will help India address its growing waste problem while improving local livelihoods.

Country Programme Overview

While India is facing a waste crisis, it is also rich in innovators and entrepreneurs. WasteAid has designed its programme in India to tap into this wealth of ideas to help build a circular economy. Bringing together stakeholders was the first important step.

WasteAid ran a series of events involving representatives from major manufacturing businesses, universities, start-ups, small businesses and community-based organisations to discuss the major barriers to a circular economy and interesting solutions to help keep materials in the loop. We also organised a riverbank clean-up event, engaging local employees of our corporate partner as well as leading environmental organisations in Guwahati.

Nurturing inclusive circular economy innovation

We then launched the Zero Waste Cities Challenge, which invited proposals from innovators and entrepreneurs that delivered circular economy objectives while creating livelihood opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised people. Our search for inclusive circular economy solutions set the challenge apart from many other similar initiatives, and attracted a wide range of unique and interesting proposals.

Shortlisted applicants were given business mentoring support before pitching their ideas to a panel of industry-leading judges. The range of inclusive circular economy solutions put forward was testament to the level of innovation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Guwahati. The winners of the Zero Waste Cities Challenge were awarded seed funding and further business incubation support to help bring their circular economy innovations to market.

Shree Guru Plastic

Already an established business, Shree Guru Plastics is looking to increase the recycling capacity of its facility in Guwahati. How? Through use of better technology to extend the life of low value and contaminated plastics – which are often left out from the recycling chain and end up in the city’s only waste disposal site.

Inside Out

Hailed as the most troublesome weed in the world, water hyacinth is notorious in Guwahati for creating ecological imbalance and waste. Inside Out duo have found a way to make paper out of the weed in the only wetland state of Assam, reducing the need for wood pulp. Crafts are also made from the weed.

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India

Why is WasteAid here?

Country Programme Overview

Nurturing inclusive circular economy innovation

Shree Guru Plastic

Inside Out

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