Background
India generates an estimated 62 million tonnes of waste annually. Up to 4 million waste pickers sort and segregate recyclable waste and sell it further up the value chain. Waste pickers often hail from the most marginalised communities in urban spaces. Plastics for Change’s programme revolves around strengthening the supply chain of waste management with regard to plastic waste and intervening to minimise exploitation of waste pickers. A fair price for the plastic collected by waste pickers is guaranteed. Also, the middlemen like scrap shop owners are incentivised on the goods they procure and price they pay.