HOW THE WASTE WAS WON
Born to a middle-class family in Thamarassery, Kerala, Jabir Karat always wanted to do something different. A postgraduate in History from Delhi University, he opted to work in the Mumbai slums as part of the Gandhi Fellowship he won in 2012, designing learning ability improvement programmes in Mumbai Municipal Corporation schools. Surrounded by a pool of waste and garbage, and seeing the utter neglect by civil authorities, Karat became determined to find ways to manage waste scientifically. To gain first-hand knowledge of waste disposal and understand the challenges it entailed, he even worked as a garbage collector for a while. In November 2014, he founded Green Worms, a start-up for waste management solutions in Kozhikode, Kerala.
“We started small, managing 300 kilos of waste locally. Today, we manage 35 tonnes of biodegradable and 850 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste every day. We have crossed Rs 3.8 crore in business turnover this year and are eyeing Rs 8 crore next year,” says Karat.
So far, Green Worms has used 36,000 tonnes of wet waste for biogas, composting and making valueadded products. Around 27,720 tonnes of dry waste has been recycled and 63,720 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills. Green Worms is now a trusted name waste management, partnering with local self-government bodies, corporate houses and business establishments and offering scientific solutions for waste management. It now employs 22 full-time staff and 142 contract labourers. “When we began, most people looked down on us for dealing in waste,” says Karat. “They mocked me for not choosing a white collar job. But I’ve proved them wrong and am contributing to a far better environment in Kerala. Even now, people save my number as Jabir WASTE!” he laughs. ■
“PEOPLE IN KERALA HAVE A NEGATIVE MINDSET WHEN IT COMES TO WASTE MANAGEMENT. THEY THINK IT’S THE GOVERNMENT’S JOB”