Plastic pollution is now widespread in natural and urban environments, raising serious environmental and health concerns. Once released, plastic persists for 100 to 1,000 years based on environmental conditions. Over time, it breaks down into microplastics (5 mm to 1 nm) and nanoplastics (smaller than 1 µm). These plastics are now found in ecosystems worldwide, from polar regions to coral reefs.1
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Plastic waste poses a major threat to marine life, with over 1,500 species known to ingest or become entangled in plastics. Moreover, microplastics have been found in human organs such as the liver, kidneys, and placenta. Harmful chemicals in plastics contaminate drinking water and are linked to reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders, as well as potential endocrine disruption.1
Globally, plastic production contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, plastics accounted for 3.4% of emissions, with projections showing this could rise to 15% by 2050 without action. India alone generates 26,000 tons of plastic waste daily, recycling only 8%. Much of it ends up in landfills or the ocean, further driving marine pollution and climate change.1,2
Indian Garbage Cafés: What are they?
Recently, novel solutions have emerged in India to address the challenges of plastic pollution. One such initiative is "Garbage Cafés", where individuals exchange collected plastic waste for freshly cooked meals.
These cafés offer a practical incentive system, where a full meal is provided in return for one kilogram of plastic waste, while smaller quantities can be exchanged for breakfast items. Thus, the approach promotes plastic waste collection and addresses food insecurity.3
Established in 2019, India's first Garbage café was set up in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh. Funded through the city’s sanitation budget and located near the city's key transportation hub, the initiative was created to simultaneously address urban hunger and plastic waste management.
The system particularly benefits those from low-income backgrounds, including informal waste collectors who previously earned minimal income by selling plastic to scrap dealers. Now, they can secure nutritious meals for themselves and their families through the same activity instead of negligible earnings/10 Indian rupees ($0.12) per kg of plastic.3
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The initiative ensures a steady food supply for economically disadvantaged individuals and helps maintain cleaner public spaces by encouraging the regular collection and recycling of plastic waste.
On average, the café supports more than 20 people daily, demonstrating the impact of pairing environmental responsibility with social welfare.
Beyond meeting immediate needs, the program strengthens community involvement in sustainability efforts while offering those in need a dignified way to support themselves.3
What Impact Do Garbage cafés Have?
Since 2019, Ambikapur’s innovative Garbage café has collected nearly 23 tons of plastic waste, reducing the amount sent to landfills. While this represents only a small fraction of the city’s total plastic waste (226 tons in 2024), it complements a wider city-wide initiative to reduce and recycle plastic more effectively.
The café focuses on capturing plastic that escapes the primary waste collection network and aims to increase community participation in sustainable practices.3
Ambikapur has seen a notable reduction in plastic going to landfill, from 5.4 tons annually in 2019 to two tons in 2024. This improvement is part of a broader waste management strategy that includes stricter regulations on plastic use, enhanced waste sorting, and an efficient, decentralized waste system.
The city generates approximately 45 tons of solid waste per day, but it has transformed its waste management approach significantly since 2016, when a zero-waste decentralized system was introduced and a former 16-acre dumping ground was converted into a park.3
What Happens to the Plastic in Garbage Cafés?
Plastic collected through the café and other channels is processed into granules, which are then sold to recyclers or used in road construction, creating revenue for the local government.
Plastic collected by the café is sent to 20 decentralized centers/specialized local waste collection centers (SLRMs) managed by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation (AMC). These centers sort waste into over 60 categories for optimal recycling.3
They employ 480 women who conduct daily door-to-door waste collection and segregation. Despite providing sanitary facilities for employees at the waste collection center, ragpickers who collect the waste lack protective gear. This disparity leaves them vulnerable to daily exposure to sharp objects, toxic waste, and bacteria, increasing their risk of illness.3
Lessons for Other Cities
Garbage cafés and plastic exchange schemes have emerged across various parts of India as innovative solutions to tackle plastic waste and support low-income communities.
In 2019, an initiative in Siliguri, West Bengal, began offering complimentary meals in return for plastic waste. That same year, Mulugu in Telangana introduced a scheme that exchanged one kilogram of plastic for an equal amount of rice.
In 2024, Mysuru, Karnataka, launched a similar program that allowed residents to swap 500 g of plastic for a free breakfast/1 kg for a full meal at Indira canteens. In Uttar Pradesh, a campaign distributes sanitary pads in exchange for plastic waste.3
However, these initiatives have faced challenges. Delhi’s 2020 plastic collection program, involving over 20 garbage cafés, struggled due to poor waste segregation, low public awareness, and inadequate recycling infrastructure.
Experts suggested that Delhi's lower uptake may be due to fewer low-income people than in cities like Ambikapur.
Globally, Cambodia has also adopted similar models. Residents can trade collected plastic for rice in plastic-polluted areas around Tonle Sap Lake, addressing environmental and food security concerns.3
Addressing Plastic Pollution
Garbage cafés and similar plastic exchange initiatives offer an innovative and socially inclusive way to address the challenges of plastic pollution and food insecurity in India.
They demonstrate how local governments can incentivize plastic collection, promote community engagement, and support low-income populations through simple, yet impactful, models.
These schemes raise awareness about plastic waste's environmental and health risks. However, such initiatives are only part of the solution. They address surface-level issues without tackling deeper problems like plastic overproduction, the prevalence of non-recyclable plastics, and poor household-level segregation. More comprehensive strategies and better data from the government are needed to assess the long-term viability of such programs in other cities.
References and Further Reading
- Impacts of Plastic Pollution [Online] Available at https://www.epa.gov/plastics/impacts-plastic-pollution (Accessed on 08 September 2025)
- Kikken, N. (2023) India generates 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. This is how we reduce that number [Online] Available at https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2023/december/circular-economy-roadmap-india (Accessed on 08 September 2025)
- Khatoon, H. (2025) Rice, two curries and dal: The Indian cafés where you can pay in rubbish [Online] Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250818-the-indian-garbage-cafés-giving-out-food-in-exchange-for-plastic-waste (Accessed on 08 September 2025)
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