Background

Mumbai is confronted with a crippling environmental and social crisis, with its overwhelming plastic waste, producing thousands of tons daily, mostly gathered by ragpickers who work in perilous conditions with scant protection, enduring stigma, financial struggles, and health risks. Circular economy practices - which are rooted in reuse, recycling, and waste reduction - remain largely absent from the community realms in India, which not only exacerbates the problem of effective waste management, but also lets the the potential for recycling to be wasted. Ragpickers and waste collectors - despite all their contributions to waste management - are too often neglected, lacking the tools, training, or respect needed for safe and sustainable work.

This is where Project ReGenesis comes in. The initiative works to connect sustainability goals with community needs. It starts by listening, using surveys to understand the challenges and risks ragpickers face directly from them. It provides immediate tools like gloves and masks, as well as resources such as litter hotspot maps and community-led plastic collection drives. Through these practical solutions, as well as partnerships with industry players, the project ensures waste is recycled effectively.

Project ReGenesis aims to reshape the sustainability landscape by supporting and empowering Mumbai’s overlooked waste workers.