The Circular Revolution: Making Waste a Valuable Resource

In 2012, Bengaluru, a city in the South of India home to 13 million inhabitants, faced a significant challenge in managing its growing waste crisis. As waste accumulation had reached critical levels – with waste found in the streets because there was no landfill to continue dumping waste – a structured and sustainable approach to waste management was desperately needed.

Waste Management in Bengaluru

At that time, the non-profit organisation Hasiru Dala had already begun working towards reforming waste management. Founded in 2010, it focuses on recognising and integrating waste pickers into the city’s waste management framework. A key objective was to provide them with a sense of identity and dignity, acknowledging their contribution to the circular economy.

© Hasiru Dala Innovations

Building on this topic, a research paper titled “Informal Waste Workers’ Contribution in Bangalore” highlighted that 15,000 waste pickers were diverting approximately 1,050 tons of waste daily, saving the municipality ₹84 crores ($ 980.000) annually. This research laid the groundwork for introducing the first-ever waste picker identity card issued by the Bengaluru municipal authorities in 2012. This official recognition was a landmark achievement and paved the way for the inclusion of waste pickers in solid waste management policies and regulations.

Turning Point: Recognising the Role of Waste Pickers

The year 2012 marked the transformation of the waste management landscape within the city. While this was a significant step forward, waste pickers continued to work in unhygienic conditions, rummaging through landfills and streets to collect recyclables.

To address this issue, Hasiru Dala launched the “Donate Your Dry Waste” campaign, an initiative that enabled apartment residents to avail a free doorstep collection service for their recyclable waste. In exchange, waste pickers were ensured a safer and more dignified working environment, while recyclables were diverted from landfills and sent for recycling. The initiative started with support from a handful of friends residing in apartments and gradually expanded as more communities recognised its benefits.

From Social Justice to Economic Justice

What began as a social security and social justice movement soon evolved into a broader economic justice initiative. As waste continued to accumulate on Bengaluru’s streets, it became clear that a structured, waste-picker-driven waste management service was needed.

© Hasiru Dala Innovations

Soon afterwards, regulations started to define bulk waste generators as entities producing 50 kilogrammes or more of waste per day (this threshold has since been revised to 100 kilogrammes per day as of 2025). Hasiru Dala pioneered a waste-picker-driven total waste management service, also called the waste picker franchise, which ensured that these bulk waste generators had a structured system for managing their segregated waste sustainably.

At the same time, Hasiru Dala also piloted and introduced Bengaluru’s first event waste management service, enabling event organisers to responsibly manage the waste generated at gatherings by ensuring proper collection and recycling. By 2015, it became evident that these services required a more structured approach, which is why Hasiru Dala Innovations (HDI) was founded. HDI is a social enterprise which creates inclusive circular economy business models that integrate waste pickers into the evolving circular economy value chain.

Sustainable Waste Management Services Challenging the Status Quo

Traditionally, waste management in most cities is handled by municipal authorities and frequently outsourced to contractors. The prevailing linear waste management model “collect, transport, and dump” was a simple yet highly profitable system incentivised by tipping fees. However, when Hasiru Dala introduced sustainable waste management services, it was perceived as a direct threat to contractors benefiting from the status quo.

This resistance escalated into death threats, vehicle hijackings, and attempts to obstruct Hasiru Dala’s operations. With the steadfast support of law enforcement and the High Court, HDI continued its efforts, leading to an order mandating police and state government protection for organisations. This milestone reaffirmed the importance of this work and set a precedent for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable waste management practices in Bengaluru.

© Hasiru Dala Innovations

The Ecogram Project: A Sustainable Waste Management Initiative

The Ecogram Project is a pioneering initiative addressing critical issues of waste management, soil degradation, and water depletion in the Bettahalasoor Gram Panchayat in North Bengaluru. Launched in June 2016, the project is a collaborative effort between the Embassy Group of Builders and The Anonymous Indian Charitable Trust (TAICT). Hasiru Dala Innovations as the implementing partner participates in solid waste management operations across ten villages adopted under this initiative.

As part of the project, waste is collected from 4500 households. Thanks to a decentralised waste management model, around 35 tonnes of waste is disposed of each month, which promotes self-sufficiency in the communities and at the same time significantly reduces the carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be produced by transporting waste over long distances.

In the end, the transition to a circular economy is more than just waste management. It requires a systemic shift in resource use, business operations, and community engagement.

Embracing these strategies will enable cities to move beyond the outdated linear economy and establish a world where waste is not discarded but repurposed into valuable resources benefiting both people and the planet.