Mangaluru, June 04, 2026: Sattva Group, Knowledge Realty Trust and rePurpose Global have reported early progress under the Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative, a three-year programme aimed at strengthening waste management systems and reducing plastic leakage across coastal regions of Karnataka.
Launched on Earth Day 2026, the initiative aims to recover between 3.5 million and 4.5 million kilograms of waste, bring 80,000 households into formal waste management systems, reduce plastic leakage across 50 coastal villages, and support 200 waste workers through livelihood and skill development opportunities.
As part of the programme, representatives from Sattva Group and rePurpose Global recently conducted a field visit to Someshwara Beach, Kadeshwalya village, Pachanady and the Bantwal Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Dakshina Kannada district to review ongoing activities and assess future interventions.
The visit began with a beach clean-up drive at Someshwara Beach, where approximately 40 community volunteers participated and collected over 250 kilograms of waste. The team also reviewed household waste collection and segregation systems in Kadeshwalya village and assessed infrastructure requirements along the Netravathi River to help prevent plastic waste from reaching the coastline.
At the Bantwal Material Recovery Facility, discussions were held with waste workers involved in collection, segregation and recycling activities under the programme.
Shivam Agarwal, Vice President – Strategy, Sattva Group, said, “You can talk about sustainability in boardrooms and earnings calls. But standing on a beach, collecting plastic with forty people who live here that’s where it becomes real. This is where the work happens, and this is where we intend to show up.”
According to the organisations, the initiative has already recovered more than 1.5 lakh kilograms of dry waste and processed over 50,000 kilograms of low-value plastic. It has also supported 20 waste workers and engaged with more than 30 gram panchayats, with support from the Dakshina Kannada Zila Panchayat and Mangala Resource Management.
Jiji Thomas, Head – ESG & Sustainability, Knowledge Realty Trust, said, "At Knowledge Realty Trust, we are committed to creating value that extends beyond our buildings and into the communities around us. The outcomes achieved through the first phase of the Repurpose Initiative demonstrate how collaborative action can drive meaningful environmental and social impact. We are encouraged by the progress made and remain committed to supporting initiatives that create cleaner, more sustainable communities for the future."
Aditya Siroya, Co-Founder and Advisor, rePurpose Global, added, “What we saw today reinforced both the scale of the challenge and the importance of building solutions designed to last. It’s encouraging to see businesses like Sattva stepping forward with real ambition — not just commitments on paper, but investment in systems that can scale. Through this partnership, we’re not only reducing plastic leakage locally; we’re building a model for environmental leadership that can extend far beyond Karnataka.”
By the end of 2026, the initiative aims to recover over 10 lakh kilograms of dry waste, including 4 lakh kilograms of plastic, improve livelihoods for 60 waste workers, and conduct awareness and capacity-building programmes across at least 15 villages in Dakshina Kannada.
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