In the quiet village of Marsur, a 34-year-old woman named Sudha is leading a humble yet determined effort to tackle the growing plastic waste problem. Having witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of waste on her community, Sudha’s story reflects a steady resolve to drive positive change, step by step.

Her journey into waste management began unexpectedly. Initially hesitant to attend a training program organized under the Sarvam Project, her role as a master bookkeeper for the Gram Panchayat gave her little choice. However, the training proved transformative, opening her eyes to the serious environmental and health consequences of improper waste management. Realizing the critical need for change, Sudha embraced this new path with cautious optimism.

Recognizing her commitment, the village Panchayat selected Sudha as the Social Entrepreneur for Marsur under Saahas Zero Waste’s Sarvam Project. As the first female entrepreneur in the initiative, Sudha has taken on the task of laying a foundation for waste management in her village.

The Sarvam Project, initiated by Saahas Zero Waste (SZW) aims to establish an ecosystem for plastic waste management across India. The project supports eight social entrepreneurs, including Sudha, who work closely with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to build and operate waste collection and recovery centers.

Sarvam collaborates with local governing bodies to align its initiatives with community needs, ensuring maximum impact. This partnership between SZW and IKEA SE also enhances project scalability and innovation through resource sharing and technical expertise.

Employment Creation: In a country where the unemployment rate was 7.8% as of May 2024 (source: CMIE), Sarvam addresses socio-economic challenges by generating much-needed job opportunities for waste collectors, drivers, field staff, and data recorders.

Sustainable Infrastructure:In Marsusr the project has established  a 2,700-square-foot collection center. Designed to process up to 3–5 tons of mixed waste daily, the facility is currently handling the secondary sorting of plastics from our Plastic Recovery facility ( PRF)due to logistical inconsistency in the inward from the village  and its early stage of operations.

Community Empowerment: Sarvam empowers entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through training and skill development, creating a grassroots movement toward sustainability and better livelihood opportunities.

The project’s innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model combines government support for land and infrastructure with SZW’s operational strategies, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Sudha’s success has been possible due to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. The village Panchayat, SHGs, and Sarvam’s technical experts have come together to support her vision.

Her SHG, consisting of 18 women, actively promotes waste segregation practices. With Sarvam’s training, these women conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns, educating residents about separating waste into wet, dry, and hazardous categories. This community-driven effort is essential for improving recycling rates and reducing contamination.

Political support has also played a role in the project’s progress, with local leaders providing logistical and financial assistance to facilitate operations.

The waste processed at Marsur’s collection center comes from residential areas, administrative blocks, and local businesses. Currently operating at approximately 600 kilograms of waste per day, the facility’s team of three field workers focuses on spreading awareness about source segregation to enhance efficiency.

By educating households , businesses to separate their waste along with systematic processes for secondary sorting, aggregation, Sudha and her team ensure better recycling outcomes while minimizing environmental harm. These efforts align with the Swachh Bharat Mission’s goal of creating cleaner and healthier communities.

Marsur’s waste collection center is designed to handle waste effectively, even in its early stages. Key operational activities include:

Careful documentation of inward material for tracking and transparency.

sorting of waste into 11-13 cateogeries as recyclable, non-recyclable, and hazardous.

Accurate bookkeeping and financial management of the center’s activities.

Sudha’s administrative expertise ensures smooth operations and reliable data for monitoring progress and making improvements.

Though still in its initial phase, the Sarvam Project has already begun to make a difference in Marsur:

Improved Sanitation: The waste management efforts contribute to cleaner surroundings, better air quality, and a healthier environment for Marsur’s approximately 15,000 residents (Census 2011).

Employment Opportunities: The project provides local jobs, offering financial stability to families and supporting inclusive development.

Community Engagement: Awareness campaigns have laid the groundwork for long-term behavior change among residents, fostering a culture of responsibility toward waste.

While challenges remain—such as achieving the facility’s full processing capacity—the project’s collaborative approach promises steady progress toward a sustainable future.

Sudha’s journey is one of resilience and collective effort. As she navigates the challenges of managing Marsur’s waste, she is supported by a network of individuals and organizations committed to making a difference.

Though it is still too early to measure the long-term impact, the groundwork being laid under the Sarvam Project offers hope for Marsur’s future—a future where waste is not just managed but transformed into an opportunity for sustainable growth.