WILMA RODRIGUES

Founder and CEO – Saahas Zero Waste

The waste management market in India is expected to be worth US$
13.62 billion by 2025. Indian municipal solid waste (MSW) management
market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.14% by 2025 while e-waste
management market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.03% during the
same period.
When Mumbai-born Wilma Rodrigues, 60, started her career as a tour guide,
she was excited at the prospect of showcasing heritage spots to foreign tourists.

In 2001, Rodrigues co-founded Saahas, a not-for-profit focusing on solid waste

management—segregation of wet and dry waste at source, composting wet
waste and recycling dry waste, among other things, in Bengaluru.

The venture began by helping supermarkets reduce their plastic waste. The
State Bank of India was Rodrigues's first big client.

Saahas soon became a revenue-generating business, Rodrigues floated the for-

profit entity Saahas Waste Management Private Limited in 2012-13, even
raising seed capital from the Indian Angel Network in 2013.

The company currently manages 80 tonnes of solid waste per day (up from 20
tonnes in 2017 and 8 tonnes in 2013) for Microsoft, Accenture and IIM-
Bangalore, among 47 others. Saahas employs over 200 waste pickers, who avail
benefits such as medical claims and provident fund.
OUR VISION
To create a zero waste world through circular economy.

OUR MISSION
We bring together nature, people and technology to provide the most
impactful waste management solutions that maximize resource recovery.

OUR SERVICES
•Waste management services
•Extended producer responsibility
•Recycled products
•Consulting
•Zero waste events

 
•Saahas Zero Waste is a registered, empanelled vendor with the
government in Bengaluru, Noida & Chennai to manage waste.

•Introduced a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in 2017, which

has the capacity to manage about 16 tonnes of waste per day.

•Work with 100+ clients across 17 states and 2 union territories.

•Through our initiatives, we are in line with UN’s Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) to facilitate economic progress,
women empowerment and action against climate change.

•Goal is to manage 500+ tonnes of waste per day by 2026.