Sampurn(e)arth

Sampurn(e)arth provides end-to-end solid waste management solutions which are environmentally sustainable, actively engage waste pickers and the informal sector and are profitable.

Fast facts:

This activity has employed 20 former informal sector workers in their operations.
Nearly 2,000,000 kilograms of solid waste has been processed saving nearly 3,000,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions.
On a daily basis this activity processes around five metric tonnes of biodegradable waste and four metric tonnes of recyclables from 80 clients.

The solution

This activity designs and installs waste management systems for housing societies, corporate houses, townships, schools, college campuses and more. A decentralized system saves considerable transportation costs and eliminates the associated emissions. The systems are designed based on site-specific conditions such as amount of space, garden area, scope for usage of biogas, etc. For biodegradable and wet waste, they suggest composting units for quantities up to 200 kilograms per day. If the daily waste generation is over 200 kilograms per day, they suggest installing a biogas plant.

Helping the planet

For biodegradable waste, this activity installs biogas plants or composting. The biogas made from waste can be used for cooking, heating water and generating electricity if it processes over 1000 kilograms per day. The non-biodegradable waste is channelized to recycling units leaving a very small percentage of waste going to the landfill. For clients generating large quantities of dry waste, this activity provides them with customized products like notepads and envelopes made of recycled paper.

Helping people

Sampurn(e)arth has employed 25 informal waste pickers to handle the day-to-day operations in the decentralized waste management systems. They are trained in composting, how to run the biogas plants and how to sort recyclables. These former informal waste pickers earn 10-15% more than what they used to. Over the past year, this activity has transformed more waste pickers into waste managers, providing them with a sense of security and stability. Their health is greatly improved; they are earning better incomes and they are able to repay their loans. They are leading more dignified lives and are keen to learn and improve their skill set, have more time to spend with their families, give their children an education and find themselves emerging from the shadows of anonymity and being accepted into a society that is slowly but surely realizing their significance.