Staff Reporter
Panaji
In a bid to boost recycling and reduce waste, Goa is set to get a tech-driven push with the launch of ‘The Kabadiwala’ — a digital platform aimed at connecting households directly with local kabadiwalas for responsible recovery of dry recyclable materials.
Goa generates a significant volume of dry waste every day, including plastic, paper, metal, and glass. However, due to limited access to organised collection systems, much of this recyclable material
ends up in landfills.
The new initiative seeks to address this gap by onboarding over 50 local kabadiwalas from Goa onto the platform, digitising their operations and improving their access to consistent income and better
working conditions.
“Recycling and keeping Goa clean and green is of utmost importance to the people and government of Goa. The initiative to make Goa a zero-waste state and compete with some of the best tourist destinations globally is a commendable mission undertaken by the Goa Coastal and Environment Management Society,” said Shrinivas Dempo, chairman of Dempo Group of Companies.
Through The Kabadiwala app, users will be able to schedule a doorstep pickup of sorted recyclable items. The platform then connects them to the nearest available kabadiwala, offering a smooth, traceable,
and rewarding recycling experience. At the heart of this initiative is the recognition of recyclables as a valuable resource. “Recyclables are resources — not waste. Our goal is to ensure every plastic bottle, newspaper, or tin can finds its way back into the economy, not into a landfill,” said The
Kabadiwala team.
Already active in 13 Indian cities with a network of over 4 lakh users, the platform is expected to significantly increase recovery and recycling of dry materials in Goa, diverting several tonnes of waste from landfills each month and enhancing livelihood opportunities for the informal recycling sector.
