Binish Desai

Indian engineer revolutionizing waste management through low-cost plastic alternatives

Binish Desai (b.1990) is transforming waste management through his pioneering work in converting plastic waste into construction materials. As founder of Binsh Plastic Recycling, he developed technology that compresses plastic waste into bricks costing 20% less than traditional materials. His methods have diverted 1,200+ tons of plastic from landfills and built over 150 affordable housing units across India's slums.

His 2016 innovation of 'plastic roads' - embedding plastic waste into road surfaces - has been adopted by 8 Indian states, reducing pothole rates by 75%. A TEDx speaker and Ashoka Fellow, Binish's work aligns with UN SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities). His startup has partnered with UN-Habitat to implement projects in Dhaka and Nairobi.

He recently launched 'Plastic2Gold', a blockchain platform tracking waste conversion. His methods are now being replicated in 15 countries through licensing agreements.