HERALD: Waste management is one of the most unorganised sectors. How easy was it to get started?
GAURAV POKLE: True, waste management is one of the most unorganised and neglected subjects. However, we have understood that this perspective and our action towards waste are slowly changing. We could see waste generators discussing about waste reduction and safe disposal. People are looking for eco-friendly, sustainable and natural alternatives. State authorities too are taking steps towards handling waste and adopting policies for better management.
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This change in handful of peoples’ attitude and behaviour made me think of consumerism in conscious alternatives and that is where YIMBY comes in. YIMBY is certified and recognised start-up under the DIIPT Start-up policy and Goa Start-up policy. Our brand YIMBY is India’s first waste management consumer centre. We aim to be our country’s most trusted, economical and influential brand name in waste management.
HERALD: With increasing population and urbanisation, waste also increases. How challenging has it been to tackle this issue?
GP: It is true that the waste foot print is only growing day by day. There are many reasons to that, increase in consumption, convenience with use and throw products and packaging, food wastage, better source of income, consumerism etc. The most challenging part is people and corporate choosing convenience over environmental impact. Most of the single use items and packaging is made from multi layers and raw material that’s non-recyclable. Hence is immortal. This haunts us in our backyard, water bodies, marine life, eco-system and also has now entered our food chain. The challenge we often face is convincing citizens and other waste generators to re-think on reducing their single use plastic and other item foot print. The Idea is to decentralise waste handling at its source of generation.
HERALD: Are you into recycling of waste?
GP: We are aggregators when it comes to recycling. Anything that is waste for us is someone else’s resource. So we believe in connecting waste resources for easy collection, value for waste and connecting recyclers with waste generators. Under the vertical trash trade of YIMBY waste generators can either sell or donate any recyclable waste as currency to any of our stores and could in exchange pickup any product from our store. We are the first in Goa to start the trash trade concept. That is to shop with your waste.
We also offer this service to bulk waste generators. So that they could make revenue from waste that could further be used to procure bins and other equipment.
HERALD: In some cities in India, waste is used to generate electricity. Do you have any plans to do so?
GP: Electricity from waste could be generated with two different types of input waste. (a) Electricity from food waste that is called bio-methanisation to electricity. (b) Electricity from non-recyclable waste which is not available in required quantity in Goa. Yimby is already into portable bio-gas plants and along with its technology partners are in the process of setting up of more than two bio-methanisation plants that would generate electricity.
HERALD: Can you tell us about waste management consumer brand Yimby?
GP: Yimby is a one-stop shop when it comes to waste. From storage bins, eco-friendly alternatives, recycling, home composting, community waste handling tools, domestic hazardous waste and more. Our services are designed to deal with all types of waste. At Yimby, our waste aid solutions are two-fold. Our projects and products are designed to reduce your operational cost, without compromising on productivity. It provides effective, innovative and budget oriented solutions for the problem of waste. As a company we are equipped to manage waste from inception stage to disposal stage.
HERALD: What other activities is Yimby involved with in Goa?
GP: DownToEarth is a volunteership campaign initiated and supported by us. It is to create awareness as well as educate the public. It is also to build consciousness among people about their waste footprint and to make them re-think on their actions and its impact on the environment. It also aims to build a sustainable environment by bridging the gap between waste generator and recyclers making citizens understand that waste is not a waste if channelized properly is a resource of energy.
HERALD: What are your future plans with Yimby?
GP: We are proud of the fact that Yimby is a Goan start-up, and aims to be having its presence in over 500 cities by 2025. Yimby is a mission driven waste management company that strives to be a one stop waste management consumer centre. Our goal is not just waste management, but also reduction of waste, and sustainability. We realise that waste management is not limited to waste aid for consumers. Our emphasis on urban and rural education makes us stand out. Through our various outreach programs we intend to educate, train, and influence individuals as well as institutions about sustainability and waste management.
