Trash to Treasure

Trash to Treasure

Helping Bangalore create the first city-wide recycling system that empowers informal sector workers
Solid waste management is an ever-growing issue in India as the country urbanizes and consumption habits change in this growing economy. 337 million people live in urban areas of India today and this is projected to grow to 590 million by 2030. 42 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated annually in the country. Its growth is outpacing the capacity of municipal governments to manage waste, leading to environmental pollution, poor sanitation and health concerns.
Global Communities’ Trash to Treasure program has been helping the city establish a decentralized waste management and recycling system. Beginning in 2009, the program piloted seven recycling centers in Bangalore that recycle 31.5 tonnes of waste per month. These centers provide direct jobs for informal waste collectors as well as new income opportunities up-stream and down-stream in the collection and processing of waste. We are now supporting the Bangalore government to replicate these recycling centers in each of the city’s 198 wards, starting with 40 wards.
Read more about the Trash to Treasure program here.