Garbage Café:
Prime Minister of India, in Mann Ki Baat, praised the innovative ‘Garbage Café’ initiative of Ambikapur Municipal Corporation, Chhattisgarh, which offers meals in exchange for plastic waste a model combining waste management with social welfare.The Garbage Café is a unique initiative by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation under the Swachh Bharat Mission to combat plastic pollution and promote zero-waste living. It encourages citizens to deposit plastic waste in return for food, blending environmental conservation with human welfare.Individuals depositing 1 kg of plastic waste receive a free meal; 0.5 kg earns them a snack. The collected plastic is recycled or used in road construction, reducing landfill pressure. Run with support from women self-help groups, promoting employment and civic participation.Reinforces circular economy goals through behavioural change and citizen engagement. Ambikapur’s success has inspired replication in states like Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
