Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 459,692 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,208 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 459,692 cutting edge ideas.

Safe Trash Enterprises

Waste Ventures Incubates and Empowers Garbage Collectors

— January 11, 2012 — Social Good
Waste Ventures is a social enterprise tackling the toxic issue of global waste through a holistic model geared at collecting, composting, recycling and reusing waste. The founder, Parag Gupta, took his social business to the next level of sustainability through the development of a model that not only helps the environment, but that also improves the living conditions of workers.

"Waste Ventures incubates solid waste management companies owned and operated by waste pickers," the company explains. "We provide them a solid waste management blueprint to recycle, compost, and earn carbon credits from waste collected."

Currently in India, professional waste pickers earn an average of a dollar a day -- not nearly enough to take care of their families, let alone send their children to school -- and they have a life expectancy of just 45 years.

The infographic video featured above was produced by Waste Ventures and illustrates the story of Rajiv, a waste collector in India, along with some frightening stats on the environmental and social harm caused by a lack of safe waste management. A few key points:

  • India generates 40 million tons of trash each year

  • Each year that number grows by 2 million tons

  • Only 25% of that trash is collected

  • Methane is 23x more harmful than CO2


Dealing with waste is a pressing global issue, and Waste Ventures hopes to tackle the problem at the root while also offering safe, ethical, and environmentally-friendly employment opportunities.

Contact Information
Waste Ventures website
Waste Ventures on Facebook
Waste Ventures on Twitter
Trend Themes
1. Holistic Waste Management - Opportunity for developing a comprehensive waste management system that includes collection, composting, recycling, and reusing waste.
2. Empowering Waste Pickers - Opportunity to incubate and support waste management businesses owned and operated by waste pickers, improving their livelihoods and living conditions.
3. Safe Waste Management - Opportunity to address the pressing issue of unsafe waste management practices and provide safe, ethical, and environmentally-friendly employment opportunities.
Industry Implications
1. Waste Management - Disruptive innovation opportunity in the waste management industry by developing sustainable and efficient waste management solutions.
2. Social Entrepreneurship - Disruptive innovation opportunity in the social entrepreneurship sector, empowering marginalized communities and creating social impact through waste management initiatives.
3. Environmental Services - Disruptive innovation opportunity in the environmental services industry, addressing the need for safe and sustainable waste management practices.
2.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness