It is a day to raise awareness of the importance recycling plays in preserving our primary resources and securing the future of our planet. 

This year, the day’s theme was recycling fraternity, in an attempt to put the spotlight on these put themselves on the frontline to collect waste and recycling during the multiple lockdowns.

On this occasion, WhatPackaging? hightlights five organisations which have been working towards a recyclable ecosystem to create a circular economy.

wastED 360 Solutions: It is a 360 solid waste management solutions environment service, working to create consumer awareness about recycling of used beverage cartons. It recently launched a campaign ‘Take Me Back’ in collaboration with Tetra Pak. A First-of-its-kind carton collection initiative, Take Me Back, aims to create consumer awareness about recycling of used beverage cartons, collect used cartons and recycle them into useful items and donate to lesser-privileged communities.

The Kabadiwala: A well-known local waste management venture, The Kabadiwala is a doorstep service that intends to help out people to sell their household junk like old newspapers and scrap material etc. Consumers who wish to sell their used cartons can do so by booking a pick-up through The Kabadiwala app or the website www.thekabadiwala.com and be paid for their waste in return.

RUR Greenlife: Led by Monisha Narke, CEO, the organisation is actively working to educate people and encourages them to adopt greener practices. RUR designs, builds, trains and installs customised turnkey waste management solutions for homes, schools, organisations which are sustainable by recycling cartons.

Waste Warriors: Waste Warriors is a waste management NGO working to build sustainable, affordable, and replicable Solid Waste Management models in the city of Dehradun, Dharamshala, and the rural forested landscape around Corbett Tiger Reserve. In collaboration with Tetra Pak, Waste Warriors not only help in increasing collection of used beverage cartons (UBCs) but also raise awareness among the waste-picker community and the value they can derive from collecting UBCs and selling them to a recycler. In 2021, Waste Warriors installed a bench and a table made of recycled Tetra Pak cartons at a Dehradun Zoo to raise awareness about the segregation of waste at source, and recycling.

FINISH Society: A waste management NGO working to promote sustainable and equitable development of sanitation, hygiene and waste management sector in India by generating awareness along with economic incentives which will further help the lives of both rural and peri-urban households.