We identified the right stakeholders and conducted surveys to understand the overall ecosystem of each city with the perspective of informal waste management practices. We also interacted with waste pickers and SHGs in all three cities, conducting capacity building and exposure sessions to enhance their skills and knowledge. During these interactions, we discussed 12 entrepreneurial sustainable waste management business models. We explored the areas of interest of the waste pickers and SHGs, helping them identify potential avenues for their entrepreneurial journey in sustainable waste management.

As a result of our efforts, up till now we have conducted a capacity building and exposure sessions with more than 1000 waste pickers and SHGs across all three cities. These sessions have not only enhanced their skills and knowledge but also sparked their interest in various entrepreneurial sustainable waste management business models. The potential of this program is to provide a better working environment for waste pickers, align them with social welfare schemes, and provide a sustainable income source. For SHGs, waste management presents a new avenue for business, increasing the number of green jobs available in a particular geography. This program particularly promotes entrepreneurship and improved working conditions for both SHGs and waste pickers. The feedback and areas of interest gathered from the waste pickers and SHGs are being used to tailor the entrepreneurial models to their needs, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful implementation and adoption.