Gandhinagar: Urban and industrial growth inevitably brings challenges such as mounting waste and the shrinking availability of scientific disposal spaces. In Ahmedabad, startups and MSMEs have identified a lucrative business opportunity in sustainable waste management. A diverse array of solutions, ranging from construction materials derived from textile waste to compostable packaging, was showcased at Greens 2026, a three-day recycling and circular economy summit. The event was virtually inaugurated by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar on Thursday. The summit convened over 100 industry leaders focused on recycling and sustainable waste management.
Where Waste Is Currency
Hardik Shah of Recycle.Green, a cleantech startup based in Ahmedabad, explained that their platform enables users to exchange waste for products. “Our app connects consumers with waste collectors, recyclers, delivery partners, and makers of recycled products. Users can schedule doorstep pickups of recyclable waste and earn cashback or credits in return. At our store, users can return used materials such as notebooks, pens, packaging waste, and other recyclables instead of discarding them as mixed garbage,” he said. Shah added that beyond general consumers, the company collaborates with several brands, restaurants, and hotels in Ahmedabad to collect and recycle packaging waste.
The Circular Model
Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, facilities generating over 100 kilograms of waste per day are classified as bulk waste generators and must process their own waste or send it to authorized processors. Ahmedabad-based startup DuroGreen Waste Management assists such clients through decentralized waste-processing systems. Founder Nishank Shah stated that the company operates over 40 organic waste composter units across Gujarat and processes nearly 20 metric tonnes daily. “Food waste is turned into compost, dry waste is sent for recycling, and inert waste is scientifically processed before being sent to landfills,” he said. “Only about 30% of collected waste eventually reaches landfill sites. Our focus is on creating systems that enable segregation, recovery, and sustainable processing at the source itself.” DuroGreen has executed over 350 projects across residential, commercial, and government segments.
Building With Textile Waste
Gujarat-based startup Re-Verse Green Clothing Private Limited is attempting to divert discarded fabric away from dumping grounds by converting it into material for construction and interiors, usable for furniture, flooring, and wall cladding. “The products come in the form of sheets and use 60-70% textile waste combined with biodegradable binders. Our factory will begin production in two months,” said company director Deep Sanghani. Co-founder Laksh Sharma added, “We are currently focusing on pre-consumer textile waste sourced from production hubs like Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhilwara, and Panipat.”
It All Starts At Home
Food waste from commercial and residential kitchens often ends up in conventional bins, causing odor, attracting pests, and creating hygiene concerns. Ahmedabad’s Apollo Kitchen Equipments and Services Limited has developed a solution that converts food waste into manure. “A food crusher is installed beneath the kitchen sink, and through a dedicated pipeline, sends food waste to an equipment installed in the building’s common area. Here, the waste is dehydrated further to make manure,” said Nilesh Nilur, the firm’s director. According to him, the company has recycled 3,000 metric tonnes of waste so far. “Our system converts wet food waste into dry, compact output, while reducing waste volume by nearly 80%. This will further lower collection frequency and transportation requirements.”
