In 2020, the city of Delhi, India introduced a unique solution to clean up plastic garbage and feed its residents at the same time. The initiative is called “garbage cafes. The way the program works is simple: one kilogram of plastic waste is exchanged for a lunch or dinner voucher at participating restaurants. Breakfast can be earned with a quarter of that or 250 grams of garbage.
Accepted items include water bottles, soft drink bottles, and plastic containers. The restaurants give the collected plastic waste to municipal organizations for recycling and repurposing, which in turn gives them money on a per-kilogram basis. For some residents, this program has become a much-needed lifeline. By collecting as little as three kilograms of garbage daily, income earners can feed a family of four, while also improving their environment. Delhi’s garbage cafes are actively reducing and managing urban pollution, as they support their local hardworking families.
