What We Do
Chintan reduces waste and consumption, manages solid and electronic waste and advocates around materials, waste and consumption. It uses waste as a tool to fight poverty, child labour gender based violence and exclusion and climate change, while creating green livelihoods. Chintan pushes back and combats unsustainable consumption. Its work directly supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17.
Our Work
Voice for Waste
This is the advocacy, research and outreach arm of Chintan. Voice for Waste gleans data through research on the ground, scientific testing, and identifies the challenges that must be addressed. It advocates for these changes both within and outside the government.
Chintan informs the general public about the news and trends it must know, and campaigns for the changes we all need.
Interview with Robert O. Blake, JrOur Policies
Scavengers to Managers
Chintan manages over 30 tons of solid and electronic waste every day in the Delhi region by doorstep collection, segregation, recycling and composting.
Yet, we are not your usual contractors. Chintan works with waste recyclers, especially wastepickers, to change the social impact of solid and electronic waste on their lives. From being poisoned by these wastes, they learn to profit from them.
No Child in Trash
Many wastepickers in India are children. Chintan works with wastepickers' communities to enable working and vulnerable children in these communities to phase-out from this hazardous work, enroll and stay in school, and learn about their rights, safety and life-skills and prepare for their lives ahead.
About 64% of our 2300 students are girls.
Trainings
This is our training programme. Chintan offers a range of trainings that are either hands-on, or to help understand and use the law. We train individuals, communities and institutions to reduce consumption and waste, segregate, recycle and compost.
We train officials and institutions to help learn about waste and e-waste so they are empowered to take good decisions. If you want to integrate wastepickers in your waste system, we can train you to do this too. Our oldest trainings are for waste workers-directly for wastepickers who can read or for facilitators.
The Safai Sena Secretariat
Safai Sena, or an army of waste recyclers, is the registered association of over 12,000 wastepickers across 3 states in North India. Through local leadership and collective advocacy, Safai Sena advocates for the recognition of waste pickers and small traders as a key aspect of waste management in India and against their stigma and exclusion. Chintan supports Safai Sena in its efforts and houses the secretariat in its office.
Please check SafaiSena for more details.
Visit Safai Sena