Who pays for dignity? Rethinking India’s waste economy

Despite the essential role that waste workers perform in any functioning city, they are often severely underpaid and denied the dignity, security, and recognition they deserve. This is especially true in India, where an estimated 4 million people work as Safai Saathis, or ragpickers, combing through hazardous landfills while facing extreme poverty and social alienation. 

A new wave of startups is working to transform India’s waste management sector and the workers who power it. They’re doing so with a mix of innovative technology, community engagement, education, and business models that center worker dignity and safety. By providing Safai Saathis with fair pay, protections, and a path to stability, they’re helping people rise out of poverty while building the foundations of a truly circular economy.