Reimagining Urban Waste: Toward Circular Cities in India
1. Promising Models Across Indian Cities
A. Swach Pune Cooperative
- Scale: 3000+ waste pickers
- Partnership: Pune Municipal Corporation (door-to-door collection)
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Impact:
- Regular income + social protection for workers
- High segregation and recycling rates
- Key Insight: Informal sector integration is an opportunity, not a liability
B. Other City Snapshots
| City | Initiative | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh | Decentralized composting, no open dumping | Reduced landfill dependence |
| Alappuzha, Kerala | Community composting, zero landfill | High public participation |
| Panaji, Goa | Bin-less dry waste collection, ward-level segregation | Efficient local management |
2. Indore: A National Benchmark
Achievements:
- Landfill waste reduced to 4%
- Bio-CNG buses from waste
- Rehabilitated dump site into processing zone + city forest
Success Drivers:
- Political will
- Citizen cooperation
- Financial planning
Challenges:
- Verification of scientific landfills
- Hazardous working conditions for waste workers
- Surveillance vs. transparency
🎯 Takeaway: Sustainability is about progress, not perfection.
3. Key Principles for Circular Cities
A. Systems Over Silos
- Waste management is not just about bins and trucks
- Requires integrated systems: collection → segregation → processing → reuse
B. Behavioral Change
- Citizen awareness and participation
- Community-driven models (e.g., Alappuzha, Panaji)
C. Social Justice
- Formal recognition and protection for informal waste workers
- Cooperatives like Swach Pune ensure dignity and fair wages
D. Innovation & Enterprise
4. Case: Paryavaran Mitra (Ahmedabad)
- Founder: Ashish Agarwal
- Focus: Transforming lives of waste-picking women
- Model: Community-driven waste management + social empowerment
- Legacy: Continues through Bridge for Change initiative
5. Steps Toward Circular Cities
- Decentralize Processing: Composting at ward/community level
- Integrate Informal Sector: Cooperatives, fair wages, social security
- Leverage Policy: EPR, Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines
- Promote Innovation: Support social enterprises and tech solutions
- Ensure Transparency: Data tracking, citizen monitoring
6. Conclusion: From Waste to Resource
- Waste is a systemic, behavioral, and justice issue
- Circular cities are built on inclusion, innovation, and integration
- Every stakeholder—citizens, governments, enterprises—has a role to play
📘 Exam Tip
Focus on real-world examples like Indore, Swach Pune, and Alappuzha to illustrate successful waste management models. Emphasize the role of informal workers, circular economy principles, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Use data (e.g., Indore’s 4% landfill waste) to show achievable targets. Always link back to systemic change—not just technical fixes.