Recity Network Private Limited
The Pitch
Recity Network Private Limited engaged communities in waste collection and reuse, cleaned the city and created jobs by building updated waste management facilities and instituting waste monitoring programs.
The Problem
Waste management infrastructure in Mussoorie was outdated and unable to process all the city’s solid waste. Excess litter not only led to health problems but also created unsightly and unpleasant living environments. In addition, waste workers were disrespected, lacked job stability, worked in unsanitary conditions and were not provided with formalized work agreements.
The Process
- Conducted outreach campaigns to involve community members in waste management and monitoring
- Performed a baseline assessment to identify where waste leakage occurred in the management chain
- Developed a Solid Waste Management Plan (using data from the baseline assessment)
- Worked with all stakeholders at each point in the waste management chain
- Developed a digital monitoring and traceability app to hold stakeholders accountable, incentivizing proper waste management practices and instituting fines in case of mismanagement
- Monitored household waste disposal patterns via door-to-door mapping
- Instituted a regular trash collection service
- Improved recyclable waste collection and monetized the value chain to create the foundation of a green economy that rewards sustainable practices
The Impact
- Improved home waste management patterns
- Increased the amount of property units properly separating wet and dry waste to 82%
- Generated 7.2 million rupees in 2020 (a 200% increase from the year before) via fee collection: Recycling accounted for 300,000 rupees (a 400% increase compared to the year prior)
- Enabled the city to develop a formal contract with waste workers, giving them dignified, stable jobs, good working conditions and economic benefits
- Increased community awareness about the importance of proper waste management
- Shifted the local culture around waste: Citizen groups conduct clean ups across the city and create art installations that reuse plastic, while businesses are shifting away from single-use plastics
- Decreased littering substantially
- Laid the foundations of a green economy, creating jobs, revenue and cleaning up the city by improving waste disposal
