INTEGRATING THE INFORMAL SECTOR

IN MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

Pune’s efforts to partner with waste pickers and provide better service

SWaCH Pune Seva Sahakari Sanstha Ltd.

Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat
 SWACH COOPERATIVE: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

 SWaCH Cooperative is the first cooperative in India

wholly owned by waste pickers.
 Waste-Pickers are informal workers collecting
recyclable materials from streets, bins and landfills.
They sort such material into 40+ types and send it
for recycling to earn their livelihood.
 The organization was the joint effort of Pune
Municipal Corporation and the waste picker trade
union Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat
(KKPKP).
 Waste-pickers organizing themselves since 1987.
 Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat - Trade Union
formed in 1993 – Identity, Harassment, Recognition,
Dignity. Currently 10,000 members
SWACH COOPERATIVE: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

 ID Cards issued by PMC – 1996

 ILO Study, 2001
 Medical Insurance (Rs. 5000) - 2002.
 MSW Rules, 2000 – Door to Door Collection
 Pilot program for integration – 2005 – 2007
 Swach registered in 2007 to provide front end waste
management services to the city of Pune and recover user fees.
 1st Formal contract with PMC - 2008 - 2013.
 2nd Formal contract with PMC - 2016 - 2020.
 SWaCH’s 3000 waste-pickers currently service over 5,60,000
properties daily.
 SWACH: HOW IT WORKS

 Pairs of members of the cooperative are in charge

of door-to-door waste collection for 250-350
households.
 Waste pickers ideally receive segregated waste
from generators.
 They sort the dry recyclable waste (40+
categories) and send material for recycling (20%).
 Waste pickers drop off wet waste and non-
recyclable waste at city-run feeder points
(transfer to vehicles).
 Members are not paid by local body for this work
but collect user fee for door step collection from
citizens. Sale of scrap is their other source of
income
The Movement of Waste from Households in Pune
 USER FEE
Year Residential Commercial Slums*

I – 2016 Rs. 50 p.m. Rs. 100 p.m. Rs. 30 p.m.

II – 2017 Rs. 55 p.m. Rs. 110 p.m. Rs. 35 p.m.
III – 2018 Rs. 60 p.m. Rs. 120 p.m. Rs. 40 p.m.
IV – 2019 Rs. 65 p.m. Rs. 130 p.m. Rs. 45 p.m.
V - 2020 Rs. 70 p.m. Rs. 140 p.m. Rs. 50 p.m.

*Slum subsidy provided by PMC @ Rs. 10 per household per month

PMC pays for Equipment
and Management Costs
 SPACE FOR SORTING

 OPEN SORTING OF WASTE SORTING SHEDS

SPACE FOR SORTING

PORTABLE SORTING SHEDS

+ COSTS & SAVINGS
Costs
Administration 3.3 Cr
Equipment 3.5 Cr
Total Cost to PMC 6.8 Cr
Savings / Benefits
Labour / Manpower 84 Cr +
Transportation and Processing 20.5 Cr +

Environmental Impact Benefits Unquantifiable

+ RECYCLING

RECYCLED in 2018 (Metric Ton)

Paper 30,000
Plastic 27,000
Metal 1200
Glass 9000
Other Materials 6000
+ SWACH IN PUNE

As of March 2019

Properties covered 800,000

% Covered 55%

Total waste handled 1100 Tonnes per day

Diverted to Recycling 200 Tonnes per day

Waste-pickers integrated 3541

Waste-Pickers yet to be integrated 3000 approx.

 Waste-Picker Integration
• Waste-pickers are already engaged in collection and
recycling of waste.
• Integration –
• improves working conditions and encourages
recycling.
• improves segregation.
• Recycling requires very fine sorting of dry waste into 40+
categories. Sorting requires Space. This model allows for
creation of such space.
• Space could be provided in colonies, municipal land etc.
for sorting. This encourages maximum recycling of waste
• Door Step Collection ensures that waste is not littered by
residents on the streets
• User Fee model –expansion capacity is not limited by
municipal resources
 BENEFITS OF SWACH MODEL

 Decentralized: Removes pressure from PMC.

 Cost-effective: Labour, Transport and Administrative Costs.
 Energy efficient and environmentally sound: non-motorized
transport and reduction of waste sent to landfills.
 Enhancing recycling and climate change mitigation.
 Labour friendly: Makes use of available workers and improves
their earnings and quality of work day. Safer environment for
waste workers and reduction of poverty through steady, livable
incomes.
 Reduced health risks: workers and communities
 Compliance with waste laws, especially Government of India
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
SWaCH E-mail :
swachcoop@gmail.com,

SWaCH Helpline:
9765999500

SWaCH Website:
www.swachcoop.com