SWMRT Update

Rainmatter Partner Updates
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  1. Overall updates (since the last update)
    Since the previous update, SWMRT has continued to expand its work in citizen engagement, decentralised waste management, and policy advocacy. Some of our key activities include:
  • Continued and sustained engagement at the Swachagraha Kalika Kendra in maintenance and conducting sessions
  • Continued ecoliteracy sessions for communities and institutions
  • Expanded collaborations with civil society organisations and citizen networks
  • Continued to champion decentralised waste management by supporting programs such as the YIMBY and Green Temple Initiatives
  • Continued awareness building via digital media and outreach sessions through campaigns such as Why Burn Waste, Sustainable Menstruation, Gutka Ban, and the Kadlekayi Parishe festival
  • Continued with global advocacy on plastic waste and composting

SWMRT has also initiated work to revamp its website and update the 2bin1bag portal to support the implementation of the new Solid Waste Management Rules 2026which come into effect on 1 April 2026.

Key Achievements Since the Last Update

• 20,929 citizens engaged through eco-literacy and capacity-building sessions

• 3,450 participants trained at the Swachagraha Kalika Kendra

• 180+ training sessions conducted across communities and institutions

• 800 kg/day of temple organic waste diverted through decentralised waste initiatives

•50+ partner organisations collaborating across civil society, government, and corporate sectors

  1. Progress on the goals listed while on-boarding
    We have made consistent progress toward the goals outlined during onboarding, particularly those planned for the first phase:
  • Identifying potential partners based on existing city engagements and inquiries from interested organisations
  • Formalising a structure for setting up an SWMRT knowledge hub in partnership with these local partners
  • Creating a knowledge exchange program, through training of trainers and master trainers programs who will, in turn, use the learnings and start engaging with the communities and with their municipalities, leading to meaningful outcomes, or through subject matter workshops with commonly identified target groups

Parallely, we have made slow but steady progress in strengthening digital knowledge platforms, developing guidance resources aligned with the upcoming Solid Waste Management Rules, and supporting the replication of learning models in other cities.

  • Mentoring and facilitating the creation of campaigns and working models through pilots, which will, in turn, lead to scaling up at the city level.
  • Creating website portals that will act as powerful resource support with advanced interactive features, which provide information tool kits, business directories listing solutions, and service providers
  • Setting up an SWM learning centre modelled on the lines of the SwachaGraha Kalika Kendra, which acts as a composting learning centre, a centre for all information, education, and communication activities, and a skilling centre

Strengthening Partnerships and Collaborative Networks: We continued work with civil society organisations, citizen groups, and knowledge partners across Bengaluru and other cities. Through our partnerships with organisations such as Socratus, Prakruthi Shaale, EcoDhaga, Hasirudala, Zero Waste Collective, Women of Wisdom, and HSR Citizen Forum, we have worked on multiple initiatives, including community learning programmes, awareness campaigns, and decentralised waste management pilots. At the international level, we continue to engage with networks such as GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), Break Free From Plastic, and the Plastic Treaty Coalition, contributing to global policy spaces on plastic pollution and composting. Through these associations, we have also been able to share and learn best practices and participate in joint advocacy and campaigns.

Building Knowledge Hubs and Learning Platforms: As a knowledge partner for the Swachagraha Kalika Kendra (SGKK), we have continued our engagement by conducting learning sessions and immersion programs for students, citizen groups, corporate teams, and municipal representatives on composting methods and sustainable living. In addition, we continue to support the space’s maintenance. We have also contributed to the development of learning centres modelled around the SGKK in Siddipet (Telangana) and Patna (Swachata ki Paathshaala). We have also created zone-wise WhatsApp groups across Bengaluru, the pan-India SWMRT WhatsApp group, and continued engagement with the Bangalore Eco Team network. These groups help with peer learning, information exchange, and collaboration among sustainability practitioners.

Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building: SWMRT continued to conduct training sessions and awareness programmes through its Eco Literacy and Community Engagement Programme (ELCEP). We delivered workshops and expert sessions for communities, schools, corporate organisations, and citizen groups on topics including waste segregation, composting, sustainable consumption, and sustainable menstruation. Through these training sessions, we have supported peer learning among citizen champions across cities.

Demonstrating Scalable Community Models: We continue to mentor and support decentralised waste management initiatives. Our two important programmes, Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) and The Green Temple Initiative, support apartments, schools, and institutions in implementing in-situ composting systems and integrating sustainable waste management in places of worship, respectively. In addition, our public awareness initiatives, such as the Why Burn Waste campaign and the Sustainable Menstruation campaign, also aim to build broader awareness of the harms of waste to energy plants and the use of disposable menstrual hygiene products by advocating for alternatives.

Strengthening Digital Knowledge Resources: We have begun revamping our website and updating the 2bin1bag portal to serve as a comprehensive knowledge platform. Our website will host practical guidance materials, manuals, and documentation to support communities, institutions, and citizen groups implementing sustainable waste management practices.

  1. Any challenges
    There has been a consistent compassion fatigue among citizens on multiple civic issues, and the waste management space is no different. On the waste management front, this has largely been due to gaps between policy intent and on-the-ground implementation, as well as limited engagement from relevant municipal authorities, including Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML). After multiple rounds of discussions, we felt it was important for us to create more citizen-centric spaces, where people can come together to ideate, discuss, and share challenges, and so we have:
  • Created zone-wise WhatsApp groups across Bengaluru to enable hyperlocal collaboration among citizen volunteers and waste management champions.
  • Continuing engagement through the Bangalore Eco Team network, which connects active citizen leaders across the city and enables rapid sharing of resources, experiences, and solutions.
  • Reviving the “2 Bin 1 Bag” campaign, to align with the new Solid Waste Management Rules coming into effect on 1 April 2026. A dedicated working group has been formed with partner organisations and citizen groups to support awareness and implementation.

Another challenge relates to scaling citizen-led initiatives across cities, which requires sustained mentorship, coordination, and knowledge sharing. We are addressing this through the Knowledge Circles initiative, which brings together experienced citizen champions to mentor emerging groups and support peer learning across communities. We hope that, through these efforts, we can address compassion fatigue, foster renewed engagement through these platforms, and create a community of practice. We believe that the upcoming implementation of the new SWM Rules also presents an opportunity to re-energise citizen engagement and strengthen collaboration between communities and local authorities.
4) Any new avenues of collaboration (with other Grantees of RCF or other NPO/NGO)
During this period, SWMRT expanded its collaboration ecosystem by working with civil society organisations, citizen groups, knowledge partners, and international networks to strengthen community engagement and implementation of sustainable waste management practices. Key collaborations include:

  • Socratus – Partnering to support the development and replication of sustainability learning centres and community engagement initiatives in Bengaluru.
  • Prakruthi Shaale – Collaboration to develop a community sustainability centre in Malleshwaram focused on environmental education and citizen engagement.
  • EcoDhaga and Hasirudala – Joint initiatives to raise awareness about textile waste and circular economy practices through corporate workshops, clothes collection drives, and visits to textile recovery facilities.
  • Zero Waste Collective – Partnership for waste management and volunteer mobilisation at public events such as Kadlekayi Parishe.
  • Women of Wisdom and HSR Citizen Forum – Collaboration on community awareness initiatives, citizen engagement programmes, and sustainable living campaigns.
  • GoGreenBox – Engagement on sustainable waste solutions and circular economy practices.
  • SWMRT also collaborated with Malleshwaram Social and local community groups to initiate composting initiatives at Kadu Malleshwara Temple and Tower Park in Sadashivnagar, demonstrating decentralised waste management solutions in public spaces.
  • As part of the Gutka Ban Awareness Campaign, we worked with volunteers and partner organisations across various locations, in Bangalore, to conduct plogging drives and waste brand audits, to highlight the continued prevalence of gutka packaging waste and the need for stronger enforcement of the ban.
  • At the international level, SWMRT continues to engage with global networks including GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), Break Free From Plastic, and the Plastic Treaty Coalition, enabling knowledge exchange and collaboration on issues related to waste management, circular economy, and plastic pollution.

These collaborations have strengthened SWMRT’s ability to mobilise communities, share knowledge, and contribute to broader environmental advocacy through collective action at local, national, and international levels.
5) Highlights from the initiatives being undertaken as part of your organization
Program and Campaigns

  • Swachagraha Kalika Kendra (Compost Learning Centre): The Swachagraha Kalika Kendra (SGKK) continues to serve as a learning and demonstration centre for decentralised waste management. During the reporting period, the centre engaged 3,450 participants, including students, resident communities, corporate teams, NGOs, and municipal officials from multiple states. Through guided visits, hands-on demonstrations, and training sessions, participants are introduced to practical models of waste segregation, composting, and sustainable living. The centre also hosts regular volunteer engagement programmes, enabling citizens to participate in compost harvesting, garden maintenance, and other sustainability practices. Additionally, Kalika Kendra processes about 350 kg of wet waste collected from HSR daily. Kalika Kendra also accepts about 10 tons of city compost from apartments composting their wet waste on average per month. This compost is further enhanced and sold to local communities.
  • Eco Literacy and Community Engagement Programme (ELCEP): Through its programme, SWMRT conducted over 180 awareness sessions, reaching more than 10,900 participants. These sessions included workshops, expert talks, community training programmes, and corporate engagements focused on waste segregation, composting, sustainable consumption, and low-waste lifestyles. The programme continues to play an important role in building awareness and practical capacity among communities, institutions, and corporate groups.
  • Green Temple Initiative: SWMRT continued to expand its Green Temple Initiative, which promotes sustainable waste management practices in religious institutions by collaborating with temple authorities, volunteers, and civic bodies. Initiatives were implemented at Banashankari, Ragigudda, Begur Nageshwara, and Kadu Malleshwara temples, introducing segregation systems and composting for organic offerings. At Banashankari Temple, approximately 650 kg of salt waste is generated daily, and the temple authorities are now diverting it for agricultural reuse. Approximately 800 kg of organic wet waste from the temples is now managed within the respective temple premises.
  • Decentralised Waste Management through the YIMBY Programme: Through the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) programme, SWMRT supported apartments, schools, and institutional campuses in adopting decentralised organic waste management systems. The programme includes waste audits, guidance on composting systems, and training for housekeeping staff responsible for managing composting operations. These interventions help communities reduce landfill-bound waste while building local capacity for sustainable waste management. In 24-25 alone, SWMRT has helped 15+ apartments and schools implement in situ wet waste management, thereby averting, on average, 3 tons of wet waste from landfills on a daily basis.
  • Sustainable Menstruation Campaign: SWMRT continued its campaign, conducting awareness sessions at educational institutions, workplaces, and community platforms. During the reporting period, the initiative reached over 1,600 participants, addressing menstrual health, environmentally responsible menstrual products, and the environmental implications of menstrual waste. The campaign continues to promote informed choices while supporting broader conversations around menstrual health and sustainability.
  • Public Awareness Campaigns and Sustainable Living Initiatives: SWMRT continued to engage citizens through campaigns promoting responsible consumption and sustainable living. The Why Burn Waste campaign raises awareness about the environmental and public health implications of waste-to-energy technologies through curated social media content and public discussions. SWMRT also supported zero-waste public events, including the Kadlekayi Parishe festival, working with the Zero Waste Collective to mobilise volunteers, encourage the use of reusable alternatives, and reduce single-use plastics. Other initiatives, such as Threads of Tomorrow, a preloved fashion showcase, highlighted the environmental impacts of textile waste and encouraged circular consumption practices.

Advocacy and Policy Engagement

SWMRT continues to actively engage in policy discussions to ensure that citizen perspectives inform waste management policies and their implementation. Key initiatives include:

  • Submission of recommendations on the Draft Solid Waste Management Rules 2024 to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Submission to MoEFCC regarding Environmental Clearance (EC) exemptions, highlighting environmental and public health implications.
  • Convening a pan-India discussion on the Supreme Court directive on menstrual health and access to menstrual hygiene products, followed by the development of a preliminary action plan to promote sustainable menstrual practices.
  • Organising consultations on the upcoming 2026 Solid Waste Management Rules, focusing on developing practical four-way segregation guidelines.
  • Facilitating dialogue on the Bidadi Waste-to-Energy plant, bringing together residents and experts to discuss transparency in emissions monitoring.
  • Initiating discussions with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on limiting large-scale Compost Santhes and promoting decentralised composting solutions.

Through these efforts, SWMRT continues to bridge citizen concerns, policy processes, and practical implementation of sustainable waste management practices.