LocationsBeyond the Bin: Transforming Waste Management
March 29, 2024
Sandeep Pavar, 35, a Safai Saathi (waste worker) from Mumbai, smiles as he talks about his work at the Dahisar Material Recovery Facility (MRF). ‘After coming here, I realized that waste segregation can be a respectable profession. Earlier, I used to work in an open dumping ground without any protection from the heat and pollution, but here, things are different,’ he says while picking out pieces of broken glass from a conveyer belt transporting plastic waste.
India currently generates 62 million tonnes of waste every year, with solid, plastic and e-waste being the principal materials. The management, processing and recycling of this waste is a complex process, an amalgamation between formal and informal economic systems, manual techniques and modern technology.
Government initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-U) aim to scientifically process all Municipal Solid Waste generated in the country. Presently, 75% of waste is processed and recycled out of the total waste generated, rising from 17% in 2014, reflecting the success of ongoing efforts towards achieving waste management goals. However, a simultaneous increase in the total amount of waste being generated calls for heightened efforts for its reduction, management and recycling.
On the ground, waste collection is driven by Safai Saathis like Sandeep, a 1.5 million strong workforce comprising waste pickers and segregators. They are the primary collectors of recyclable waste, contributing towards efficient waste management and resource efficiency by sorting, trading and even recirculating discarded waste back into the economy.
However, majority of them are informal workers, with no formal recognition of their work. Despite their key role in the waste value chain ecosystem, they often face systemic marginalization, severe health hazards and exclusion from social as well as legal protection. Providing them a safe working environment, and ensuring their wellbeing is vital to scale up the country’s waste management system and achieving the vision of becoming a circular economy.
Towards this objective, UNDP is working with the government, private sector and civil society organizations to develop a modernized waste management centres and ensure social protection for Safai Saathis. The Dahisar MRF, in partnership with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Hindustan Unilever and ReCircle, is one such facility.
The day starts early at the MRF, where Safai Saathis put on their safety equipment before gearing up for waste collection. Trucks equipped with segregation containers head out to collect waste from households, their routes monitored meticulously through GPS systems. At the MRF, loaded trucks are weighed to measure the waste quantity, ensuring accuracy and accountability. Once weighed, the material is sorted diligently by the Safai Saathis on conveyor belts, with each item carefully segregated. The segregated waste then undergoes grinding before being sent to recycling plants.
However, majority of them are informal workers, with no formal recognition of their work. Despite their key role in the waste value chain ecosystem, they often face systemic marginalization, severe health hazards and exclusion from social as well as legal protection. Providing them a safe working environment, and ensuring their wellbeing is vital to scale up the country’s waste management system and achieving the vision of becoming a circular economy.
Towards this objective, UNDP is working with the government, private sector and civil society organizations to develop a modernized waste management centres and ensure social protection for Safai Saathis. The Dahisar MRF, in partnership with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Hindustan Unilever and ReCircle, is one such facility.
The day starts early at the MRF, where Safai Saathis put on their safety equipment before gearing up for waste collection. Trucks equipped with segregation containers head out to collect waste from households, their routes monitored meticulously through GPS systems. At the MRF, loaded trucks are weighed to measure the waste quantity, ensuring accuracy and accountability. Once weighed, the material is sorted diligently by the Safai Saathis on conveyor belts, with each item carefully segregated. The segregated waste then undergoes grinding before being sent to recycling plants.
Behaviour change is also an important aspect of the journey towards waste reduction and recycling. As Safai Saathis go from door-to-door to collect waste, they make it a point to speak to households about the importance of waste segregation, highlighting how it not only makes their job easier and more efficient, but also the impact every individual can make to protect our environment.
The sky has started becoming overcast as Sandeep and his colleagues wind up their work for the day, their smiles and light banter signifying a silent triumph — a testament to the transformation of perception and practice in waste management. Beyond the statistics and strategies, their stories underscore the human dimension of waste management, where the dignity of labour is restored, and the contributions of those who toil tirelessly to keep our cities clean are acknowledged and honoured.
Partner’s Speak
Building robust waste management systems that safeguard the environment as well as our waste workers is critical to achieve the vision of Swachh Bharat. Through our ‘Inclusive Circular Economy’ partnership with UNDP, we continue to enhance social inclusion and upliftment of Safai Saathis, protecting the environment and paving the way towards a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.Prashanth Venkatesh, Marketing Director & India Head of Sustainability, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.