Combatting Plastic Waste Pollution
The Challenge
How can local stakeholders combat plastic pollution in rural areas?
The Objective
Creating, testing and implementing models for rural waste management systems to be run by social businesses
The Location
West Bengal, India
Plastic waste poses a major environmental threat to the Indian Sundarbans, a valuable ecosystem in the Ganges Delta. To address this problem, SOCEO is supporting the establishment of social enterprises in selected areas of the Indian Sundarbans that collect waste and process it for recycling. The enterprises are run by local NGOs in collaboration with informal waste collectors.
SOCEO developed the models and tested the prototypes. As part of the project, a transfer package was also developed to enable further knowledge exchange and implementation of the project in other regions.
“SOCEO has played a crucial role in transforming our organization into a waste managing social enterprise. We have made a journey together to connect to the informal waste collectors. This has increased our social contribution, viability and environmental commitment.“
Dilip Pal
Social Entrepreneur
Society
Involving the informal sector and other existing stakeholders to create an inclusive development
Environment
Contributing to the collection of all types of plastic waste for a clean environment
Opportunity
Creating entrepreneurial opportunities that serve the people and the environment
We are contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals
Supported by
