Waste pickers play a vital role in urban waste management, yet they remain among the most marginalized workers in India. To address this, the Dalit Bahujan Resource Centre (DBRC) and Tetra Pak have launched the Enhancing Access to Entitlements, Livelihoods, Health, and Environmental Sustainability project in Tirupati.
Since its inception in November 2024, the initiative has been working to improve waste pickers’ livelihoods, education, and access to healthcare and social security while fostering environmental responsibility.
Empowering waste pickers for a sustainable future
The program focuses on four key areas:
- Economic empowerment – Providing waste pickers with tricycles and pushcarts to enhance collection efficiency and create additional income opportunities.
- Education for children – Establishing Outdoor Learning Centers (OLCs) to support academic growth, life skills training, and school enrollment.
- Health awareness and social security – Conducting training sessions on occupational health risks and government welfare schemes.
- Sustainable livelihoods training – Educating waste pickers on best practices, leadership skills, and improved waste management techniques.
In just a few months, the project has set up three OLCs benefiting 90 children, trained 150 waste workers, and conducted hygiene and climate awareness campaigns across schools and colleges.
Transforming waste management in Tirupati
On March 21, 2025, the initiative marked a significant milestone with multiple activities across the city. The day began with DBRC and Tetra Pak donating 10 steel pushcarts to the Tirupati Municipal Corporation, reinforcing the city’s waste segregation efforts. At the handover ceremony, Sri Charan Teja, Additional Commissioner, praised the initiative:
“This program is not just about livelihoods—it is about dignity and inclusion. I commend DBRC and Tetra Pak for recognizing the contributions of waste pickers and working towards their empowerment.”
Later, a recycling awareness campaign was launched, spanning 21 areas and engaging 10,000 residents to promote responsible waste disposal and sustainability.
A highlight of the day was the distribution of 23 tricycles and pushcarts to waste pickers, expanding the total number of carts in use to 59.
Transforming lives: Voices from the community
Mrs. Ramulamma, a project beneficiary, shared:
“I was provided with a four-wheeler pushcart, and with it, I’ve started selling dry fish. This has boosted my income, and I am grateful to DBRC and Tetra Pak for bringing change to our lives.”Another beneficiary from Scavengers Colony, K. Subramanyam, added:
“I used to walk 5 kilometers daily, carrying heavy waste sacks and earning just 200 to 250 rupees. With a tricycle rickshaw from DBRC and Tetra Pak, I now travel 10 to 12 kilometers, collect more waste, and earn 700 to 800 rupees a day. My family’s life has changed for the better.”
A model for the future
For long-term success, such initiatives require collaboration between brand owners, urban local bodies (ULBs), collection partners, and recyclers to strengthen collection systems and build viable recycling networks.
Ch. Samuel Anil Kumar, Deputy Director, DBRC, emphasized the broader impact of this partnership:
“In Tirupati, our partnership with Tetra Pak is more than an intervention—it’s a breakthrough for waste pickers. We’re rebuilding futures by elevating incomes, creating pathways, and dismantling generations of marginalization. Gratitude to Tetra Pak for making this transformation possible.”
As the day concluded, the key takeaway was clear—this initiative is about social transformation, not just waste management. The collaboration between DBRC, Tetra Pak, and the Tirupati Municipal Corporation demonstrates how corporate and grassroots partnerships can drive meaningful change. By integrating livelihood support, education, and environmental sustainability, this model could pave the way for similar initiatives across India.
For Tirupati’s waste pickers, this initiative signals a brighter future—and for the city, a more sustainable tomorrow is now within reach.