Anshuman Gupta

Indian social entrepreneur pioneering waste-to-wealth initiatives across Asia.

Overview

Anshuman Gupta is the founder of Trash Munity, a social enterprise transforming urban waste into economic opportunities. Starting in Mumbai in 2014, his model has empowered 20,000+ waste pickers while diverting 200+ tons of waste daily from landfills by 2019. This innovative approach addresses both environmental degradation and poverty reduction.

Origins of the Vision

Gupta's journey began during his MBA studies at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). Witnessing the plight of informal waste workers during field visits, he realized the potential in upcycling waste materials. His LinkedIn profile highlights how he combined circular economy principles with community engagement to create scalable solutions.

Core Innovations

Gupta's three-tier model includes:

• Collection: Partnering with 50+ municipalities
• Processing: Converting plastics into pellets and organic waste into compost
• Marketplace: Selling eco-friendly products through RecycleBank partnerships

His Waste-to-Wealth program trains marginalized communities to operate micro-enterprises, achieving 80% employment retention rates.

Impact Metrics

By 2019, Trash Munity had:

• Prevented 30,000+ tons of CO2 emissions
• Generated ₹150 million ($2 million USD) in worker income
• Expanded operations to 8 Indian states and 3 Southeast Asian countries

His work was recognized with the Green Heroes Award (2017) and UN Environment Programme's Champions of the Earth finalist status (2018).

Global Influence

Gupta's TEDx talk "The Circular Economy is Already Here" inspired similar models in Kenya and Indonesia. He advises governments on implementing the World Health Organization's waste guidelines in developing nations.