About Us

We are a socio-environmental enterprise with 17 years of experience in waste management and resource recovery.

Our journey began along with the introduction of the Municipal Solid Waste Rules in 2000.

Our founder and CEO, Wilma Rodrigues, was a journalist who actively advocated the importance of sustainable and holistic waste management, and ultimately began this enterprise.

We ensure maximum recovery of resources from all streams of waste by diverting it away from landfills and sending it to the right destinations.

State Bank of India was our first client in the year, 2003.

Introduced decentralized waste management units – Kasa Rasas in the year 2012.

Saahas Zero Waste is a registered, empanelled vendor with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for both dry & wet waste.

With the expansion of our clientele and scope of our operations, we instituted a Materials Recovery Facility in 2017, which has the capacity to manage about 16 tonnes of waste per day.

Currently, we work with 80+ clients across Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Goa – and manage 38 tonnes of waste a day.

Through our initiatives, we are in line with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to facilitate economic progress, women empowerment and action against climate change.

Our goal is to manage 122 tonnes of waste per day by 2021.

OUR MISSION

We bring together nature, people and technology to provide the most impactful waste management solutions that maximise resource recovery

OUR VISION

To create a zero waste world

through circular economy

Our team

Awards

Namma Bengaluru Award for the Best Social Entrepreneur, 2012.

Swachh Best Practice Award 2018 for our Zero Waste Programme for Bulk Generators.

Waislitz Global Citizen Award, 2017.

CII Emerging Entrepreneur for Southern India, 2016.

Action for India (AFI), 4th Annual Forum Award for Social Entrepreneurship, 2015.

Recognized as one of the Top 12 Social Enterprises in India by NDTV – The Real Deal Runner-up in Season 1 of The Real Deal, 2016.

testimonials

Jiji Thomas Associate Director, RMZ

Dr Nagesh Tyagi Adithya Birla Fashion Retail Ltd

Srikanth EHS Head, Accenture

Roots Academy

In 2016, we at RMZ took a conscious decision to implement the best practices in waste management. We’ve introduced on-site composting and dry waste management systems in each of our tech-parks. We are proud of our waste management systems and for having been able to divert 95% of our solid waste away from landfills. We are also deeply grateful to Saahas Zero Waste for their efficient and holistic on-site services, and for being with us in this journey right from when we started out with an idea. Apart from segregation and collection, they work closely on the ground to manage our on-site facilities and also track the waste that goes out right up to the point that it gets recycled. Their attention to detail brought down our proportion of Reject waste from 60% to just 6%.

We have 250 stores across Bangalore. Together with our waste management partner SZW, we trained our internal teams to understand the different waste types and introduce segregation at source. All packaging material together with other waste is now managed efficiently by SZW, for the entire network of stores. Through their MIS system we also have real time data on the quantity and quality of waste which is recovered and recycled. We are now working towards expanding this system to our stores all across the country.

When it comes to sustainability we are clear that our waste is our responsibility and we need to comply with regulations so our waste goes through a recovery process. We are happy to find a partner like Saahas Zero Waste that is committed to a Circular Economy. They manage our waste through hassle-free off-site solutions, and provide recommendations on how waste can first be reduced. We did away with plastic liners in our dustbins and are happy with the bin-to-bin system proposed by them. Their approach and implementation is very aligned to our needs and has exceeded our expectations.

In an effort to contribute positively to the environment, Roots Academy has chosen to have our school diaries made from recycled paper. The team from SZW was quick to understand our ideas and customize the same. This has been a huge success with the students who are always excited to receive their copy of the eco-friendly school diary, and parents who’ve been appreciative of the initiative.