Chintan (Environmental Research and Action Group) Information

At Chintan, we look at waste in a whole new way - As a resource that supports livelihoods and fights poverty and as a tool that empowers women and children. Established in 1999, we are internationally awarded non-profit that enables proactive participation of informal recycling sector in waste management at Delhi NCR. We convert waste into social wealth by creating and facilitating green jobs in the waste sector, research and advocacy for better urban policies, organizing the informal sector for self-representation and eliminating child labour in the sector. Chintan’s programs for waste pickers employ over 1000 wastepickers collecting waste from over 24,000 households in the NCR. It incubates an association of wastepickers, small traders, itinerant buyers and recyclers called Safai Sena, which has membership of 12,000 wastepickers. We deliver professional level waste and e-waste management across residential areas and with over 12 bulk waste generators. For over a decade now, we have aimed to beget recognition and legality to informal sector waste handlers by providing them training and capacity building for services like doorstep and on-site collection, segregation, first stage processing and composting. Chintan runs education programs to phase out child labour from wastepicking, and mainstream children, particularly girls, into schools and help them stay in school. The program has benefited over 5,000 children across Delhi to formal schools. We also undertake cutting-edge research and actively participate in policy advocacy and monitoring. Our efforts have resulted in the passing of 5 new policies and rules that are inclusive of the informal waste handling and recycling sector. Chintan endeavours to secure the right to a life with dignity for informal recyclers and to access environmentally and socially responsible waste recycling. We look forward to partnering with more organizations to bring sustainable waste management practices to the forefront.