SWMRT works on the issues surrounding SWM through a multi-dimensional, multi-layered and gender-neutral approach.

Our work includes:

Conceptualising and leading behavioural change campaigns
Strategy and policy advocacy
Facilitation: creating community-based models/tools and providing implementation support
Research and data analytics
Conducting capacity building, training and other educational programmes

What We Do

Campaigns

We strongly believe that effective campaigns drive behavioural change, To this end SWMRT has created and supported various campaigns to raise awareness on segregation of waste at source and promoted composting, sustainable menstruation, sustainable living, festival and event waste management, among others.

Some of our special thematic campaigns include communicating policy changes and research to build an appreciation and understanding of the issues around responsible SWM. All our campaigns are well-thought-out and involve long-term engagement to encourage adoption of lifestyle changes at all levels.

The platforms used include digital media, traditional media and focused outreach activities.

See All Our Campaigns

Policy

Since 2009, we have been working with various stakeholders for a roadmap on decentralised waste management to address the need for Resource Recovery Policy and Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Policy for India.

Focus areas

We continue to advocate for sustainable SWM at all levels of policy-making—ward, city, state, national —by focusing on implementing the following structural changes which are in line with our ideology:

segregation of waste at source
destination-based waste stream collection and transportation
decentralised/ localised processing facilities
inclusion of the informal sector in recycling
promotion of the principles of waste hierarchy
promotion of waste to compost / biogas and not waste-to-burn technologies
phasing out non-recyclable products and packaging and promoting a circular economy

Influencing Policy
Ongoing legal advocacy, since 2010 through Lok Adalat and subsequently through the High Court of Karnataka has been an important game changer in influencing policy which among other interventions also resulted in influencing the national policy leading to the SWM Rules 2016.

We continue to work with various departments and agencies at different levels including the BBMP, the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) of Karnataka and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to usher in the much-needed change and work towards adopting sustainable practices from waste disposal to waste management.

Facilitation

Creating Models and Tools for problem solving
This is at the core of the interventions that we do. The solid waste management problems are first identified, deconstructed and then reconstructed again, integrating the requirements of waste hierarchy, economic and business considerations, livelihood and occupational objectives. This is done on an ongoing iterative way, thus refining the models, as learnings improve and eco systems become more robust.

Facilitating for demonstration
We facilitate pilots for adoption and implementation through multi-stakeholder engagement and collaborations. This includes two models:

Proprietary models are owned, managed and promoted in-house.
Collaborative models are curated and /or owned by others, managed and/ or promoted by SWMRT.

MODELS

Waste Stream Management
Segregation At Source
Composting
Decentralised Management
Dry Waste Management
Bulk Generator Management
Ward Micro Plan
Festival Waste Management

Our Activities

Community-organising activities
Institutional engagement and consulting
Community-building through programmes like SGCC
Outreach activities through initiatives like Compost Santhes.
Knowledge-partnering through programmes like SGKK.
Technical assistance through undertakings like Time and Motion Study.
Direct Engagement through programmes like CPP.

Research

Our research and data analytics involves stakeholder mapping, reviewing government regulations and global trends, landscape research, material flow analysis and policy and budget analysis. Based on our on-the-ground experience with communities, our research focuses on case studies, ethnographic studies, quantitative and qualitative analyses. We also conduct action research and exploratory studies for new themes, ideas, pilots and observational studies. We also collaborate with partners for laboratory-based research wherever necessary. Our research documents are open source and are available in the public domain.

Report on Waste Pickers Inclusion

Waste & Brand

Audit

Education

Education includes training and capacity building and the main activities are

Knowledge creation: toolkits, guides, handbooks.
Knowledge dissemination: sessions, demonstrations.
Tailored training programmes: corporates, schools, colleges and government offices.
Capacity-building: government and elected representatives.
Learning centre engagement
Incubation centre for SWM
Train-the-Trainer series for citizens.

Participants include citizen volunteers, municipality officials, corporate staff, students and the general public

Training for all stakeholders
Over the years , it has been amply evident that training key stakeholders is important for adoption and implementation of solid waste management principles. While the general public needs just awareness and information, municipal staff and administration need in-depth training. Training ensures that municipal officers are made conversant with the SWM Rules, regulatory requirements and the technical requirements.

In addition, master training programs using a Training of Trainer(TOT) approach also enables creating a cadre of citizen practitioners to bring about change in their ward through constructive engagement.

Bringing experience and expertise to training

Our training covers theory, practice, field study from a very experienced group of practitioners that not just share the knowledge but motivate and inspire the participants to be the agents of change . Our training sessions include classroom learning, experiential learning and field observations .