Earth5R

  Earth5R’s Dharavi Model: A Grassroots Revolution in Plastic Recycling In the heart of Mumbai, where the city’s relentless urban sprawl meets one of Asia’s largest slums, a silent yet significant environmental revolution is underway. Dharavi, home to nearly a million people, produces an estimated 600 metric tonnes of waste every day, with a substantial portion being plastic.  Yet, despite its label as a slum, Dharavi is also a hub of informal recycling where small-scale businesses, waste pickers, and local residents collaborate in a loosely organized yet remarkably effective recycling economy. Here, plastic bottles, wrappers, and packaging waste are collected, sorted, and processed into reusable materials—offering not only a solution to the city’s mounting plastic crisis but also a source of livelihood for thousands. Plastic waste has become an escalating crisis in India. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the country generates over 3.5 million tonnes...