Background:

Over the past five years, processed food consumption in India has surged, leading to increased waste generation. The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules of 2016 assign Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) with waste management responsibilities, but many face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and lack of political will. To address these issues, RLBs can collaborate with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to build sustainable waste management systems. These partnerships can improve local infrastructure, contribute to long-term sustainability, and enhance the quality of life in both rural and urban areas. Strengthening RLB-CSR cooperation is key to tackling India's growing waste management challenges.

Objectives:

• Establish efficient and sustainable waste management practices, including proper collection, segregation, and disposal of waste in 3 Gram Panchayats of Anekal Taluk of Bangalore Urban District.
• Foster the adoption of circular economy principles, such as waste reduction, reuse, repair and recycling, to minimize environmental impact and maximize resource efficiency across the intervention area in 3 years. 
• Educate and raise awareness in the community about the importance of waste management, promoting behavioral changes to encourage responsible waste disposal and recycling practices.
• Engage and empower local stakeholders, including community members, district officials and elected representatives to actively participate in waste management initiatives and take ownership of the process through capacity-building programs. 
• Minimize the environmental impact of waste disposal by advocating sustainable practices such as composting organic waste and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills.