Waste Management for Sustainable District Development

Green Innovation Dialogue: Driving Sustainable Change Together :

A multi-sectoral panel discussion aimed at addressing waste management challenges and exploring innovative solutions for sustainable district development.

1. Introduction

On the occasion of Earth Day, AMRIT Mehsana – Startup & Innovation Mission organized the “Green Innovation Dialogue: Driving Sustainable Change Together,” a multi-sectoral panel discussion aimed at addressing waste management challenges and exploring innovative solutions for sustainable district development.
The event brought together key stakeholders including government authorities, subject matter experts, academic institutions, incubation partners, startups, and students (including international participants), creating a collaborative platform for dialogue and action.

2. Key Dignitaries & Participants

The event was graced by the presence of:
● Shri M. Nagarajan, Municipal Commissioner, Surat
● Dr. Hasrat Jasmine, IAS, District Development Officer, Mehsana
● Shri Mukesh Patel, Hon’ble MLA
● Mr. Prabhjot Sodhi, MBE, Sr. Program Director (CEE) & National Thematic Lead for
Plastics, Ministry of Jal Shakti
● Mr. Suman Rathod, Senior Program Director, Centre for Environment Education
● Dr. Dhara Rajput, Programme Coordinator, Centre for Environment Education
● Mr. Jatin Patel, Deputy Executive Engineer
● Dr. Chetan Choudhary, Director, IQAC, Sankalchand Patel University
● Dr. Prateek Patel, North Gujarat Angel Investors
● Mr. Ranchhod Modi, Senior Manager, NABARD Assisted SDAU RBIC
● Mr. Dhaval Padhiyar, CSO, NABARD Assisted SDAU RBIC

The event also witnessed active participation from academic institutions, incubation centers, ecosystem stakeholders, and students including international participants.

3. Startup Participation

The event featured innovative startups working in the waste management domain:
● Ms. Anchal Shah – Wetcol
● Mr. Nishank Shah – Duro Green Waste Management Pvt. Ltd.
● Mr. Nishant Upadhyay – Tatvamasi Research Pvt. Ltd.
● Mr. Shubham Chawla – Davaj Live Beyond LLP (EcoDrape)
These startups presented key problem statements and demonstrated innovative, scalable solutions for sustainable waste management.

4. Event Proceedings & Key Insights

Opening Session:
The event commenced with a welcome and context setting, followed by an opening address by Dr. Hasrat Jasmine, IAS, District Development Officer, Mehsana. She emphasized the importance of adopting diverse and context-specific waste management models, highlighting the need for structured systems, local innovation, and coordinated departmental efforts to address growing waste challenges.

Keynote Address:
Mr. Prabhjot Sodhi, MBE, Senior Program Director at CEE, highlighted the importance of integrating policy frameworks, behavioural change, and innovation to strengthen waste management systems, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
He emphasized the vast potential of the recycling and circular economy sector, describing it as a multi-billion-dollar opportunity requiring continuous innovation. He also stressed the importance of ensuring waste segregation at source and called for stronger collaboration between policy, startups, and grassroots implementation.

Special Address & Insights:
Shri M. Nagarajan, Municipal Commissioner, Surat, highlighted the need for
technology-driven transformation in waste management systems, particularly in waste processing, sewer management, and automation.
He noted:
“Solid waste management is not just about what we see on the surface, but also about the unseen processes—how waste is segregated, processed, and recycled.”
He emphasized innovation in areas such as robotic sewer cleaning, efficient waste segregation, and sludge recycling, while identifying behavioural change as a critical challenge. He encouraged young innovators to develop scalable technological solutions for large-scale impact.

Policy Perspective:
Shri Mukesh Patel, Hon’ble MLA, emphasized the need to extend waste management solutions to rural areas and align them with urban systems. He highlighted the importance of integrating innovative solutions at the village level to ensure inclusive and comprehensive district development.

Startup Showcase:
Startups presented solutions focusing on waste-to-energy, sustainable materials, and research-driven innovations, demonstrating strong potential for district-level implementation.

Panel Discussion:
A multi-stakeholder panel discussion was conducted involving government authorities, experts, and ecosystem enablers. The discussion focused on:
● Key challenges in waste management systems
● Role of startups and innovation in addressing these challenges
● Importance of behaviour change and citizen participation
● Strengthening collaboration between government, academia, and industry
● Identifying actionable pathways for implementation

5. Key Outcomes

● Identification of practical and scalable waste management solutions
● Strengthened collaboration between government, startups, and academic institutions
● Emphasis on integrating policy, technology, and behavioural change
● Recognition of innovation as a key driver for Tier-2 and Tier-3 city transformation
● Foundation for future pilot projects and partnerships in Mehsana

Notably, startups such as Duro Green Waste Management Pvt. Ltd. and Wetcol received project opportunities and support from the Hon’ble MLA and municipal authorities, marking a significant step towards real-world implementation.

6. Conclusion

The Green Innovation Dialogue served as a significant step towards fostering a collaborative and innovation-driven ecosystem for sustainable waste management in Mehsana. The event successfully facilitated meaningful discussions, aligned stakeholders, and laid the groundwork for actionable interventions, contributing to the vision of transforming Mehsana into a smart, sustainable, and scalable model district for waste management.