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We reimagined the recycling process to make it work. Here’s how. | Pronita Saxena | TEDxNITTrichy


so how many of you believe you’ve

so how many of you believe you’ve produced waste today please raise your

produced waste today please raise your

produced waste today please raise your hands that should be all of you we had

hands that should be all of you we had

hands that should be all of you we had lunch we had breakfast there was food

lunch we had breakfast there was food

lunch we had breakfast there was food some women maybe made a trip to the

some women maybe made a trip to the

some women maybe made a trip to the restroom to supposed to a sanitary

restroom to supposed to a sanitary

restroom to supposed to a sanitary napkin so we’ve all produced waste at

napkin so we’ve all produced waste at

napkin so we’ve all produced waste at some point today now we might not have

some point today now we might not have

some point today now we might not have as intimate relationship with waste as

as intimate relationship with waste as

as intimate relationship with waste as this family which was photographed by an

this family which was photographed by an

this family which was photographed by an artist in the u.s. surrounded by one

artist in the u.s. surrounded by one

artist in the u.s. surrounded by one week’s worth of waste that they produced

week’s worth of waste that they produced

week’s worth of waste that they produced but out of curiosity how many of you

but out of curiosity how many of you

but out of curiosity how many of you have ever wondered where is my waste go

have ever wondered where is my waste go

have ever wondered where is my waste go anyone all right

anyone all right

anyone all right that’s no no I I see a few odd balls but

that’s no no I I see a few odd balls but

that’s no no I I see a few odd balls but um hopefully today we will change that

um hopefully today we will change that

um hopefully today we will change that but before we do that perhaps a better

but before we do that perhaps a better

but before we do that perhaps a better question to ask is what with your waste

question to ask is what with your waste

question to ask is what with your waste now in India about 60% of the waste we

now in India about 60% of the waste we

now in India about 60% of the waste we produce is organic this can be fed

produce is organic this can be fed

produce is organic this can be fed straight into a biogas plant which can

straight into a biogas plant which can

straight into a biogas plant which can produce electricity people such as that

produce electricity people such as that

produce electricity people such as that goes into transportation systems RS

goes into transportation systems RS

goes into transportation systems RS which is what powers yours if you took a

which is what powers yours if you took a

which is what powers yours if you took a city like Bangalore and all of the

city like Bangalore and all of the

city like Bangalore and all of the organic waste that we produce and fed

organic waste that we produce and fed

organic waste that we produce and fed all a written to a buyer

all a written to a buyer

all a written to a buyer you would be able to generate enough

you would be able to generate enough

you would be able to generate enough power to light up twenty four thousand

power to light up twenty four thousand

power to light up twenty four thousand homes just take a minute and absorb that

homes just take a minute and absorb that

homes just take a minute and absorb that better yet this fact that if you took

better yet this fact that if you took

better yet this fact that if you took all of this organic waste converted into

all of this organic waste converted into

all of this organic waste converted into CNG you would be able to power up seven

CNG you would be able to power up seven

CNG you would be able to power up seven hundred and eighty thousand CNG buses

hundred and eighty thousand CNG buses

hundred and eighty thousand CNG buses and we had an incredible group of

and we had an incredible group of

and we had an incredible group of interns from Columbia the summer who did

interns from Columbia the summer who did

interns from Columbia the summer who did some more math for me and they tell me

some more math for me and they tell me

some more math for me and they tell me that this could actually fuel hundred

that this could actually fuel hundred

that this could actually fuel hundred and seventy eight percent of the daily

and seventy eight percent of the daily

and seventy eight percent of the daily trips that buses in Bangalore make every

trips that buses in Bangalore make every

trips that buses in Bangalore make every single day now there’s another question

single day now there’s another question

single day now there’s another question how many of you believe this is

how many of you believe this is

how many of you believe this is happening today anyone so that’s my

happening today anyone so that’s my

happening today anyone so that’s my question we’re a country that can put a

question we’re a country that can put a

question we’re a country that can put a mission to Mars for a less per kilometer

mission to Mars for a less per kilometer

mission to Mars for a less per kilometer cost than what it costs to take an

cost than what it costs to take an

cost than what it costs to take an autorickshaw cross and the but why can’t

autorickshaw cross and the but why can’t

autorickshaw cross and the but why can’t this be a reality so today I really want

this be a reality so today I really want

this be a reality so today I really want to ask you to think about perhaps one of

to ask you to think about perhaps one of

to ask you to think about perhaps one of the most invisible systems that each one

the most invisible systems that each one

the most invisible systems that each one of us participate in every single day

of us participate in every single day

of us participate in every single day and that is how we manage our waste what

and that is how we manage our waste what

and that is how we manage our waste what I want you to do is to start asking the

I want you to do is to start asking the

I want you to do is to start asking the right question and I guarantee you you

right question and I guarantee you you

right question and I guarantee you you will not look at waste the same way ever

will not look at waste the same way ever

will not look at waste the same way ever again in fact I can guarantee you you

again in fact I can guarantee you you

again in fact I can guarantee you you will be itching to find ways to convert

will be itching to find ways to convert

will be itching to find ways to convert your waste into compost energy recycle

your waste into compost energy recycle

your waste into compost energy recycle products and the reason for this is

products and the reason for this is

products and the reason for this is because you will want to know the

because you will want to know the

because you will want to know the question excuse me you won’t want to

question excuse me you won’t want to

question excuse me you won’t want to know the answer to the question where is

know the answer to the question where is

know the answer to the question where is my waste going unfortunately today this

my waste going unfortunately today this

my waste going unfortunately today this is your answer your waste is going to a

is your answer your waste is going to a

is your answer your waste is going to a landfill and let me tell you a landfill

landfill and let me tell you a landfill

landfill and let me tell you a landfill is nothing fancy it is just an open

is nothing fancy it is just an open

is nothing fancy it is just an open piece of land where waste from cities is

piece of land where waste from cities is

piece of land where waste from cities is collected and dumped there is no

collected and dumped there is no

collected and dumped there is no processing happening it’s just lying

processing happening it’s just lying

processing happening it’s just lying there what’s worse is that these people

there what’s worse is that these people

there what’s worse is that these people who are often called rag pickers are the

who are often called rag pickers are the

who are often called rag pickers are the only ones doing the majority of

only ones doing the majority of

only ones doing the majority of recycling in our country they sift

recycling in our country they sift

recycling in our country they sift through hazardous and contaminated waste

through hazardous and contaminated waste

through hazardous and contaminated waste that we have produced in order to feed

that we have produced in order to feed

that we have produced in order to feed themselves and as a result you and I

themselves and as a result you and I

themselves and as a result you and I caused ragpickers is life expectancy to

caused ragpickers is life expectancy to

caused ragpickers is life expectancy to be 39 years and this is actually a

be 39 years and this is actually a

be 39 years and this is actually a global phenomenon almost 30 percent of

global phenomenon almost 30 percent of

global phenomenon almost 30 percent of the world’s population still does not

the world’s population still does not

the world’s population still does not have access to daily collection of their

have access to daily collection of their

have access to daily collection of their garbage and about 42 percent of the

garbage and about 42 percent of the

garbage and about 42 percent of the world’s population still is not able to

world’s population still is not able to

world’s population still is not able to access control disposal facilities this

access control disposal facilities this

access control disposal facilities this by the way is my most favorite graph

by the way is my most favorite graph

by the way is my most favorite graph that I wish I could go and put in every

that I wish I could go and put in every

that I wish I could go and put in every Minister and bureaucrats office in India

Minister and bureaucrats office in India

Minister and bureaucrats office in India who believes that hey we can just go to

who believes that hey we can just go to

who believes that hey we can just go to a developed country and copy/paste a

a developed country and copy/paste a

a developed country and copy/paste a solution for our waste management

solution for our waste management

solution for our waste management problem we can’t because there is no

problem we can’t because there is no

problem we can’t because there is no country in the world that has a

country in the world that has a

country in the world that has a recycling economy in this graph by the

recycling economy in this graph by the

recycling economy in this graph by the UN Environment Programme you will find

UN Environment Programme you will find

UN Environment Programme you will find that the blue sections are representing

that the blue sections are representing

that the blue sections are representing the amount of waste that is landfills

the amount of waste that is landfills

the amount of waste that is landfills the yellow is incineration dark green is

the yellow is incineration dark green is

the yellow is incineration dark green is composting and light green is recycling

composting and light green is recycling

composting and light green is recycling please note landfilling and incineration

please note landfilling and incineration

please note landfilling and incineration are still the primary form of recycling

are still the primary form of recycling

are still the primary form of recycling or excuse me of dealing with waste

or excuse me of dealing with waste

or excuse me of dealing with waste anywhere in the world but I truly

anywhere in the world but I truly

anywhere in the world but I truly believe that India is uniquely

believe that India is uniquely

believe that India is uniquely positioned by the in the many senses by

positioned by the in the many senses by

positioned by the in the many senses by the constraints that we have whether its

the constraints that we have whether its

the constraints that we have whether its population growth restricted land access

population growth restricted land access

population growth restricted land access but most importantly with the power of

but most importantly with the power of

but most importantly with the power of democracy to really create the

democracy to really create the

democracy to really create the foundation for require for recycling

foundation for require for recycling

foundation for require for recycling economies across the world

economies across the world

economies across the world and I think it’s high time we do this

and I think it’s high time we do this

and I think it’s high time we do this mostly because just a few months ago the

mostly because just a few months ago the

mostly because just a few months ago the landfill that receives one per day and

landfill that receives one per day and

landfill that receives one per day and that is by the way one third 3,700

that is by the way one third 3,700

that is by the way one third 3,700 tonnes is only a part of what Mumbai

tonnes is only a part of what Mumbai

tonnes is only a part of what Mumbai produces in her on a daily basis this

produces in her on a daily basis this

produces in her on a daily basis this landfill caught on fire and spread car

landfill caught on fire and spread car

landfill caught on fire and spread car citizens across the city for about four

citizens across the city for about four

citizens across the city for about four days and I think about 70 schools were

days and I think about 70 schools were

days and I think about 70 schools were shut during that time because we had one

shut during that time because we had one

shut during that time because we had one of the worst air quality’s in the city’s

of the worst air quality’s in the city’s

of the worst air quality’s in the city’s history landfilling does not only

history landfilling does not only

history landfilling does not only contribute carcinogens it is also a

contribute carcinogens it is also a

contribute carcinogens it is also a source for groundwater contamination

source for groundwater contamination

source for groundwater contamination produces about 6 percent of greenhouse

produces about 6 percent of greenhouse

produces about 6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and causes a slew of

gas emissions and causes a slew of

gas emissions and causes a slew of diseases what’s interesting is today we

diseases what’s interesting is today we

diseases what’s interesting is today we account for landfilling as being or

account for landfilling as being or

account for landfilling as being or waste management in general as

waste management in general as

waste management in general as accounting for 6 percent of greenhouse

accounting for 6 percent of greenhouse

accounting for 6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions but I want you to look at

gas emissions but I want you to look at

gas emissions but I want you to look at this graph more closely and look at how

this graph more closely and look at how

this graph more closely and look at how on this chart all the other industry is

on this chart all the other industry is

on this chart all the other industry is responsible for greenhouse gases also

responsible for greenhouse gases also

responsible for greenhouse gases also produce waste so if we actually look at

produce waste so if we actually look at

produce waste so if we actually look at responsible waste management across

responsible waste management across

responsible waste management across these industries you could and we also

these industries you could and we also

these industries you could and we also look at preventing the creation of

look at preventing the creation of

look at preventing the creation of wastes you can actually reduce

wastes you can actually reduce

wastes you can actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 20

greenhouse gas emissions up to 20

greenhouse gas emissions up to 20 percent with better waste management

percent with better waste management

percent with better waste management across the world these are the

across the world these are the

across the world these are the sustainable development goals for 2030

sustainable development goals for 2030

sustainable development goals for 2030 unfortunately waste management didn’t

unfortunately waste management didn’t

unfortunately waste management didn’t make it on there again invisible system

make it on there again invisible system

make it on there again invisible system right it didn’t make it on there as a

right it didn’t make it on there as a

right it didn’t make it on there as a direct goal however it can improve about

direct goal however it can improve about

direct goal however it can improve about 11 of the 17 goals if we move towards

11 of the 17 goals if we move towards

11 of the 17 goals if we move towards creating recycling economies and this is

creating recycling economies and this is

creating recycling economies and this is the stat that really got my co-founder

the stat that really got my co-founder

the stat that really got my co-founder and I to start our company because we

and I to start our company because we

and I to start our company because we just think this is stupid and someone

just think this is stupid and someone

just think this is stupid and someone had to fix it 85 percent of India’s

had to fix it 85 percent of India’s

had to fix it 85 percent of India’s waste can be recycled but 90 percent

waste can be recycled but 90 percent

waste can be recycled but 90 percent sits in landfills today of course before

sits in landfills today of course before

sits in landfills today of course before we could go off and build a solution we

we could go off and build a solution we

we could go off and build a solution we had to ask ourselves why is this

had to ask ourselves why is this

had to ask ourselves why is this happening and there are three main

happening and there are three main

happening and there are three main reasons the first is given that organic

reasons the first is given that organic

reasons the first is given that organic waste is predominantly the majority of

waste is predominantly the majority of

waste is predominantly the majority of the waste that we produce we need

the waste that we produce we need

the waste that we produce we need destinations that are not Lancel such as

destinations that are not Lancel such as

destinations that are not Lancel such as biogas plants just send this waste to we

biogas plants just send this waste to we

biogas plants just send this waste to we don’t have enough of them second issue

don’t have enough of them second issue

don’t have enough of them second issue there is absolutely no logistics of

there is absolutely no logistics of

there is absolutely no logistics of supply chain management of any kind of

supply chain management of any kind of

supply chain management of any kind of waste collection transportation or

waste collection transportation or

waste collection transportation or processing operation last but very very

processing operation last but very very

processing operation last but very very important we have an inability to manage

important we have an inability to manage

important we have an inability to manage behavior to allow for us to manage this

behavior to allow for us to manage this

behavior to allow for us to manage this entire supply chain and this is all

entire supply chain and this is all

entire supply chain and this is all while we have access targets for

while we have access targets for

while we have access targets for renewable energy by 2030 we must produce

renewable energy by 2030 we must produce

renewable energy by 2030 we must produce 40% of our country’s electricity from

40% of our country’s electricity from

40% of our country’s electricity from renewable energy Ave and we’ve of course

renewable energy Ave and we’ve of course

renewable energy Ave and we’ve of course accounted for solar and wind but guess

accounted for solar and wind but guess

accounted for solar and wind but guess what waste to energy was mentioned in

what waste to energy was mentioned in

what waste to energy was mentioned in this report only twice we’re ignoring

this report only twice we’re ignoring

this report only twice we’re ignoring one of our most promising sources of

one of our most promising sources of

one of our most promising sources of renewable energy when it comes to supply

renewable energy when it comes to supply

renewable energy when it comes to supply chain management it baffles me that

chain management it baffles me that

chain management it baffles me that somehow everybody understands yes supply

somehow everybody understands yes supply

somehow everybody understands yes supply and demand have to match in real time to

and demand have to match in real time to

and demand have to match in real time to have the grid function for all of us

have the grid function for all of us

have the grid function for all of us have electricity

have electricity

have electricity however we somehow don’t realize that

however we somehow don’t realize that

however we somehow don’t realize that you’d like today we had a big gathering

you’d like today we had a big gathering

you’d like today we had a big gathering here today everybody had lunch obviously

here today everybody had lunch obviously

here today everybody had lunch obviously someone’s going to have to dispatch an

someone’s going to have to dispatch an

someone’s going to have to dispatch an extra truck to pick up the extra barrels

extra truck to pick up the extra barrels

extra truck to pick up the extra barrels of waste that all of us produced how do

of waste that all of us produced how do

of waste that all of us produced how do we know this there is zero technology

we know this there is zero technology

we know this there is zero technology being used to tell us about the quantity

being used to tell us about the quantity

being used to tell us about the quantity let alone the quality of waste its

let alone the quality of waste its

let alone the quality of waste its location whether it has gotten picked up

location whether it has gotten picked up

location whether it has gotten picked up and where it was taken finally this is

and where it was taken finally this is

and where it was taken finally this is the most important criteria that we

the most important criteria that we

the most important criteria that we realized is necessary for us to have the

realized is necessary for us to have the

realized is necessary for us to have the potential to recycle and have a

potential to recycle and have a

potential to recycle and have a recycling economy and that is

recycling economy and that is

recycling economy and that is segregation at source so this is

segregation at source so this is

segregation at source so this is actually a new habit that all of us need

actually a new habit that all of us need

actually a new habit that all of us need to form but it’s actually not as

to form but it’s actually not as

to form but it’s actually not as daunting as it sounds all you need to do

daunting as it sounds all you need to do

daunting as it sounds all you need to do is separate your waste into three

is separate your waste into three

is separate your waste into three streams the first one is organic 60% of

streams the first one is organic 60% of

streams the first one is organic 60% of your waste can just go straight into

your waste can just go straight into

your waste can just go straight into this category this is your

this category this is your

this category this is your fruit fields vegetables meats bones some

fruit fields vegetables meats bones some

fruit fields vegetables meats bones some amount of garden waste all of that the

amount of garden waste all of that the

amount of garden waste all of that the second category is what we considered

second category is what we considered

second category is what we considered dry waste so this can get plugged into

dry waste so this can get plugged into

dry waste so this can get plugged into the informal recycling systems that we

the informal recycling systems that we

the informal recycling systems that we have the world over please put this kind

have the world over please put this kind

have the world over please put this kind of waste into this bag now the third one

of waste into this bag now the third one

of waste into this bag now the third one is reject waste so now I’m really

is reject waste so now I’m really

is reject waste so now I’m really talking to the women who use the

talking to the women who use the

talking to the women who use the bathroom dispose of sanitary napkins

bathroom dispose of sanitary napkins

bathroom dispose of sanitary napkins some of you have kids at home you use

some of you have kids at home you use

some of you have kids at home you use diapers all of this is considered reject

diapers all of this is considered reject

diapers all of this is considered reject waste this should go into the red bin

waste this should go into the red bin

waste this should go into the red bin very very exciting is that we had a

very very exciting is that we had a

very very exciting is that we had a pioneering city in Bangalore which has 8

pioneering city in Bangalore which has 8

pioneering city in Bangalore which has 8 million people is about the fifth

million people is about the fifth

million people is about the fifth largest city in India and decided to

largest city in India and decided to

largest city in India and decided to make segregation at source mandatory by

make segregation at source mandatory by

make segregation at source mandatory by law in 2012 and let me tell you they’re

law in 2012 and let me tell you they’re

law in 2012 and let me tell you they’re very very serious about this why because

very very serious about this why because

very very serious about this why because we know restaurants who have been fined

we know restaurants who have been fined

we know restaurants who have been fined almost 1.5 lakhs which is a little over

almost 1.5 lakhs which is a little over

almost 1.5 lakhs which is a little over 2,200 dollars and they’ve been shut for

2,200 dollars and they’ve been shut for

2,200 dollars and they’ve been shut for a week because they did not segregate

a week because they did not segregate

a week because they did not segregate their wastes very exciting so they went

their wastes very exciting so they went

their wastes very exciting so they went forward with segregation at source they

forward with segregation at source they

forward with segregation at source they also did a second thing they required

also did a second thing they required

also did a second thing they required they very quickly realized that they did

they very quickly realized that they did

they very quickly realized that they did not have the capacity to be able to

not have the capacity to be able to

not have the capacity to be able to serve all the waste producers in the

serve all the waste producers in the

serve all the waste producers in the city so they mandated that most large

city so they mandated that most large

city so they mandated that most large apartment complexes and businesses

apartment complexes and businesses

apartment complexes and businesses should move their processing of organic

should move their processing of organic

should move their processing of organic waste on site the city even went ahead

waste on site the city even went ahead

waste on site the city even went ahead and started inviting biogas companies to

and started inviting biogas companies to

and started inviting biogas companies to come and set up plants this is one such

come and set up plants this is one such

come and set up plants this is one such plant it takes about five tons of

plant it takes about five tons of

plant it takes about five tons of organic waste on a daily basis so let’s

organic waste on a daily basis so let’s

organic waste on a daily basis so let’s take a step back and look at how

take a step back and look at how

take a step back and look at how pioneering Bangor actually was because

pioneering Bangor actually was because

pioneering Bangor actually was because it installed 125 tons of processing

it installed 125 tons of processing

it installed 125 tons of processing capacity it has about 500 tons in the

capacity it has about 500 tons in the

capacity it has about 500 tons in the pipeline

pipeline

pipeline effectively allowing 27 percent of its

effectively allowing 27 percent of its

effectively allowing 27 percent of its organic waste to go into energy it also

organic waste to go into energy it also

organic waste to go into energy it also mandated segregation at source it asked

mandated segregation at source it asked

mandated segregation at source it asked residents and large businesses to start

residents and large businesses to start

residents and large businesses to start helping out and managing either waste on

helping out and managing either waste on

helping out and managing either waste on site or using private resources to

site or using private resources to

site or using private resources to dispute to deal with their way

dispute to deal with their way

dispute to deal with their way scientifically but somehow this is still

scientifically but somehow this is still

scientifically but somehow this is still not working why is that so you have less

not working why is that so you have less

not working why is that so you have less than 5% of the city segregating their

than 5% of the city segregating their

than 5% of the city segregating their wage right now why is this the biggest

wage right now why is this the biggest

wage right now why is this the biggest thing we found as a problem was that no

thing we found as a problem was that no

thing we found as a problem was that no one was talking to each other there was

one was talking to each other there was

one was talking to each other there was absolutely no technology as I mentioned

absolutely no technology as I mentioned

absolutely no technology as I mentioned earlier you had three at you you had

earlier you had three at you you had

earlier you had three at you you had three aspects that you needed to cover

three aspects that you needed to cover

three aspects that you needed to cover but you only had two so you have the

but you only had two so you have the

but you only had two so you have the destinations you have people who produce

destinations you have people who produce

destinations you have people who produce waste who are willing to segregate it

waste who are willing to segregate it

waste who are willing to segregate it but you don’t have a way to get the

but you don’t have a way to get the

but you don’t have a way to get the right kind of waste to those facilities

right kind of waste to those facilities

right kind of waste to those facilities and that’s where our company came in we

and that’s where our company came in we

and that’s where our company came in we invented the system more as a network

invented the system more as a network

invented the system more as a network and a platform so that we can work with

and a platform so that we can work with

and a platform so that we can work with every kind of generator to ensure that

every kind of generator to ensure that

every kind of generator to ensure that they have a system to maintain

they have a system to maintain

they have a system to maintain segregation within their own facility we

segregation within their own facility we

segregation within their own facility we then dispatch collectors to take every

then dispatch collectors to take every

then dispatch collectors to take every single waste stream that can be recycled

single waste stream that can be recycled

single waste stream that can be recycled to the right kind of facility and

to the right kind of facility and

to the right kind of facility and there’s tracking throughout so what you

there’s tracking throughout so what you

there’s tracking throughout so what you actually do is not just segregate your

actually do is not just segregate your

actually do is not just segregate your waste but take responsibility for

waste but take responsibility for

waste but take responsibility for knowing where it is going and what

knowing where it is going and what

knowing where it is going and what became of it and this is what our

became of it and this is what our

became of it and this is what our customers today will be able to produce

customers today will be able to produce

customers today will be able to produce in this year we have data generated in

in this year we have data generated in

in this year we have data generated in every single transfer on both the

every single transfer on both the

every single transfer on both the quality and the quantity of waste

quality and the quantity of waste

quality and the quantity of waste without which you cannot manage the

without which you cannot manage the

without which you cannot manage the system at scale we were able to make

system at scale we were able to make

system at scale we were able to make segregation at source reality you have

segregation at source reality you have

segregation at source reality you have what mixed waste looks like on one side

what mixed waste looks like on one side

what mixed waste looks like on one side and what segregated waste looks like on

and what segregated waste looks like on

and what segregated waste looks like on the other you can actually take all of

the other you can actually take all of

the other you can actually take all of that organic waste and feed it directly

that organic waste and feed it directly

that organic waste and feed it directly into a plant into a biogas plant you do

into a plant into a biogas plant you do

into a plant into a biogas plant you do not need to do any more segregation

not need to do any more segregation

not need to do any more segregation we manage operations in real time this

we manage operations in real time this

we manage operations in real time this required us to take all of the existing

required us to take all of the existing

required us to take all of the existing collectors who were there but build

collectors who were there but build

collectors who were there but build hardware and mobile applications that

hardware and mobile applications that

hardware and mobile applications that even low literate populations could use

even low literate populations could use

even low literate populations could use to be directed to the right spot to be

to be directed to the right spot to be

to be directed to the right spot to be able to give feedback when something

able to give feedback when something

able to give feedback when something goes wrong and to be able to allow us to

goes wrong and to be able to allow us to

goes wrong and to be able to allow us to change gears in real time based on how

change gears in real time based on how

change gears in real time based on how much waste was being produced at a

much waste was being produced at a

much waste was being produced at a particular point this was our first

particular point this was our first

particular point this was our first victory we started feeding this biogas

victory we started feeding this biogas

victory we started feeding this biogas plant which now lights up this entire

plant which now lights up this entire

plant which now lights up this entire park we started when this plant was

park we started when this plant was

park we started when this plant was getting less than 200 kgs of waste in a

getting less than 200 kgs of waste in a

getting less than 200 kgs of waste in a day today it gets more than 4,000 kgs

day today it gets more than 4,000 kgs

day today it gets more than 4,000 kgs and is very close to fulfilling it’s 5

and is very close to fulfilling it’s 5

and is very close to fulfilling it’s 5 tons capacity it is fed by restaurants

tons capacity it is fed by restaurants

tons capacity it is fed by restaurants in its neighborhood so since October of

in its neighborhood so since October of

in its neighborhood so since October of 2015 we have add over hundred businesses

2015 we have add over hundred businesses

2015 we have add over hundred businesses over 2,000 households and ten collectors

over 2,000 households and ten collectors

over 2,000 households and ten collectors joined this network and together they

joined this network and together they

joined this network and together they have diverted over 1,000 tons of waste

have diverted over 1,000 tons of waste

have diverted over 1,000 tons of waste from landfills and converted it instead

from landfills and converted it instead

from landfills and converted it instead into energy compost and recycled

into energy compost and recycled

into energy compost and recycled products a lot of people ask us what

products a lot of people ask us what

products a lot of people ask us what made these customers join our network

made these customers join our network

made these customers join our network and I have to tell you we know they

and I have to tell you we know they

and I have to tell you we know they really not like customers they’re more

really not like customers they’re more

really not like customers they’re more like community champions there were

like community champions there were

like community champions there were people who went door-to-door to get

people who went door-to-door to get

people who went door-to-door to get their neighbors to sign up they hosted a

their neighbors to sign up they hosted a

their neighbors to sign up they hosted a lunch where 35 restaurant owners showed

lunch where 35 restaurant owners showed

lunch where 35 restaurant owners showed up in a neighborhood to make sure that

up in a neighborhood to make sure that

up in a neighborhood to make sure that they could help us fill at least one

they could help us fill at least one

they could help us fill at least one truck they paid us triple what they were

truck they paid us triple what they were

truck they paid us triple what they were paying their current collector to make

paying their current collector to make

paying their current collector to make sure as a young company we could survive

sure as a young company we could survive

sure as a young company we could survive most importantly they stood by us when

most importantly they stood by us when

most importantly they stood by us when the local health inspector came

the local health inspector came

the local health inspector came threatening them with fines because they

threatening them with fines because they

threatening them with fines because they had joined a new system and I also got

had joined a new system and I also got

had joined a new system and I also got dogs don’t show my personal safety but

dogs don’t show my personal safety but

dogs don’t show my personal safety but really what we learned from our

really what we learned from our

really what we learned from our customers was that

customers was that

customers was that business owners and citizens in India

business owners and citizens in India

business owners and citizens in India are excited about providing a model for

are excited about providing a model for

are excited about providing a model for the world to follow they believe that it

the world to follow they believe that it

the world to follow they believe that it is possible to form the foundation of

is possible to form the foundation of

is possible to form the foundation of recycling economies and they are willing

recycling economies and they are willing

recycling economies and they are willing to participate in a system that will

to participate in a system that will

to participate in a system that will work a system that will yield results

work a system that will yield results

work a system that will yield results and I believe that we can make this

and I believe that we can make this

and I believe that we can make this platform a global platform at a time

platform a global platform at a time

platform a global platform at a time when the world is divided and fighting

when the world is divided and fighting

when the world is divided and fighting over the access to resources we want

over the access to resources we want

over the access to resources we want this platform to break boundaries and be

this platform to break boundaries and be

this platform to break boundaries and be a connector to bring people together who

a connector to bring people together who

a connector to bring people together who want to create recycling networks in

want to create recycling networks in

want to create recycling networks in their own communities

their own communities

their own communities all we need are three ingredients to

all we need are three ingredients to

all we need are three ingredients to scale the first one of course is policy

scale the first one of course is policy

scale the first one of course is policy we must have government’s support

we must have government’s support

we must have government’s support segregation at source and invite

segregation at source and invite

segregation at source and invite investment and cooperation from the

investment and cooperation from the

investment and cooperation from the private sector in order to have clean

private sector in order to have clean

private sector in order to have clean energy in order to have real-time

energy in order to have real-time

energy in order to have real-time operations destinations we are so

operations destinations we are so

operations destinations we are so excited about providing this model to

excited about providing this model to

excited about providing this model to invite further investment into the waste

invite further investment into the waste

invite further investment into the waste energy sector which has been rather

energy sector which has been rather

energy sector which has been rather ignored in the conversation on renewable

ignored in the conversation on renewable

ignored in the conversation on renewable energy we solve their supply chain

energy we solve their supply chain

energy we solve their supply chain problem their raw material problem which

problem their raw material problem which

problem their raw material problem which is what they need in order to continue

is what they need in order to continue

is what they need in order to continue investing and third is technology I

investing and third is technology I

investing and third is technology I stand here today ready to commit our

stand here today ready to commit our

stand here today ready to commit our efforts to any city in the world that

efforts to any city in the world that

efforts to any city in the world that wants to bring in the concept of

wants to bring in the concept of

wants to bring in the concept of recycling economies technology is

recycling economies technology is

recycling economies technology is absolutely scaleable and that is what we

absolutely scaleable and that is what we

absolutely scaleable and that is what we are here to do so the only question I

are here to do so the only question I

are here to do so the only question I have is I you in a position to start

have is I you in a position to start

have is I you in a position to start participating in recycling economies

participating in recycling economies

participating in recycling economies thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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