Background:
Coastal areas in Karnataka, India, face significant waste management challenges due to population growth, urbanization, and tourism. This has led to an increase in waste generation, posing a threat to the coastal ecosystem and environment. Plastic waste is a major concern on the sandy beaches of Udupi district, a popular tourist destination. The waste from nearby villages often finds its way into rivers and drains, eventually polluting the Arabian Sea.

Objectives:
Through the Swachh Karavali Mission project, we are working in 12 Gram Panchayats in Kundapura and Byndoor taluks of Udupi district. The objective is to ensure regular collection of segregated waste and preventing it from leaking into the ocean. The Material Recovery Facility (MRF) set up by the Government of Karnataka  in Hosamedavu Panchayat is operated by women from SHGs, this project will also support the SHGs in operations in the initial stage by providing gap funding. As the MRF sees an increase in the quantity and quality of the incoming waste through the intervention in the project, MRF will also achieve operational sustainability.