Introduction:

Uncontrolled disposal of municipal solid waste poses a significant challenge not only in India but also in other developing nations. The municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system encounters various issues related to waste treatment methods like composting, recycling, or energy generation. If the current MSWM system cannot address these concerns effectively, it leads to the accumulation of mixed municipal waste in landfills, making the MSWM heavily reliant on landfill sites. This excessive dumping of municipal solid waste contributes significantly to groundwater contamination, soil pollution, and environmental degradation. Metropolitan cities play a major role in waste generation, particularly due to ongoing infrastructure development, resulting in higher production of inert waste compared to other regions.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, approximately 80% of the total waste generated is collected through various methods, while the remaining 20% remains uncollected and disperses into the urban environment. Out of the total waste generated, roughly 50% is segregated at the source and suitable for further processing. Consequently, about 40% of the total waste generated is managed within the existing MSWM system, while the remaining unsegregated waste is deposited in landfill sites. Often, waste sorting is conducted by the informal sector and occasionally assisted by waste producers. The sorting process occurs in hazardous and unsafe conditions, with limited effectiveness, as the informal sector primarily segregates valuable components from the waste stream to secure higher economic returns in the recycling market. Due to storage space constraints, many waste processing industries resort to utilizing landfill waste, primarily handling mixed waste that is often contaminated. This not only increases waste processing costs but also results in subpar-quality products, including recyclables and compost.

Wasteful Insights has developed an affordable, efficient and automated segregation unit to further segregate dry waste using AI, computer vision and robotics. Their waste segregation software uses IoT and cameras to identify and sort products as they pass through the conveyor belt. Their AI mechanism also allows for the system to get better at identifying objects when traditional identifiers are not visible. All this data is visualized into an easy-to-use Insight Dashboard for the waste management company, in order to coordinate recycling logistics. Further, their system plugs into the current waste management infrastructure, hence there are no retrofitting costs.

Wastefull Insight’s team brings with them deep technical expertise and a clear vision for their business. Co-founder Rishabh Shah has experience in building AI and Robotics solutions, with a BTech from VIT, Manali Agarwal showcases an understanding of the opportunity in small to medium-sized waste management facilities, with MSc in Production and Logistics from the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Market Opportunity:

Indian urban centres produce about 277 Million tonnes of Solid waste per year. This is processed across 7000+ waste management companies across the country, only recycling about 20% of the waste they receive. Each of these companies has multiple waste processing facilities and each has a dire need for mechanization to bring more recyclability and hence generate more revenue.