MALBA

Project

A STARTUP WORKING TOWARDS CIRCULARITY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

PLAY

LET'S TALK ABOUT WASTE.

Malba is the Hindi word for the debris generated from construction and demolition activities. It is the leftover material (broken bricks, concrete etc.) that has traditionally been perceived to have no economic value. Today, due to technological advancements in recycling, this is no longer true. As a developing country, India has an abundance of Malba, making it the material of future Indian cities.

WE HAVE A MALBA

PROBLEM

OPPORTUNITY

1 / 3
Collection Points, meanwhile, are inaccessible to waste generators, and there is a general lack of manpower to operate and maintain these designated facilities.
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However, malba is 100% recyclable, and fully capable of being processed into usable construction material, yet only 1% of malba generated in India is recycled - leaving recycling plants underutilized.
3 / 3
Malba, often dumped illegally or landfilled, leaches toxins into the groundwater, clogs drains, obstructs roads, and disrupts our urban fabric by creating visual clutter and obstructions.
Malba, often dumped illegally or landfilled, leaches toxins into the groundwater, clogs drains, obstructs roads, and disrupts our urban fabric by creating visual clutter and obstructions.
Collection Points, meanwhile, are inaccessible to waste generators, and there is a general lack of manpower to operate and maintain these designated facilities.
However, malba is 100% recyclable, and fully capable of being processed into usable construction material, yet only 1% of malba generated in India is recycled - leaving recycling plants underutilized.

HOW MALBA PROJECT
CLOSES THE LOOP

Malba Project enables a Circular Economy in the Urban Built Environment by building readily deployable solutions for cities to manage malba. 

Our mission as a team is not only to champion sustainable practices in the waste management sector, but to facilitate smart resource usage, and bring India one step closer to becoming a circular economy.

About us
WHAT WE DO
We use tech to streamline C&D waste collection, trace material flows, generate granular waste data, and raise awareness.
how we do it
By leveraging our partnerships with informal malba haulers, urban local bodies and recycling plants, we have tested and refined our strategies through pilot projects, and have built digital solutions to solve the malba problem.
Explore our work
WHAT WE DO
We use tech to streamline C&D waste collection, trace material flows, generate granular waste data, and raise awareness.
how we do it
By leveraging our partnerships with informal malba haulers, urban local bodies and recycling plants, we have tested and refined our strategies through pilot projects, and have built digital solutions to solve the malba problem.
Explore our work

THE IMPACT

5.5 MILLION KGS

35,473 kgs

864 SQM

40-90%

2000+

Of C&D waste diverted from illegal landfilling & dumping

CO2 eq avoided by diverting waste to
recycling plants.

of land saved

 increase in profit margins per truck for haulers.

members gained across socials, a growing community of vibrant and informed individuals.

TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS

“The MCD has an established C&D waste management system, but lacks a sustainable primary collection mechanism. The pilot with Malba Project successfully onboarded all stakeholders and created a robust connection between C&D waste collection and the processing chain. They collected over 2 million kgs of malba in 6 weeks, and I highly recommend other cities to work with them.”

Kumar Abhishek

Deputy Commissioner, MCD Karol Bagh Zone

“Initially, we did not have an authorized space to dump malba which resulted in illegal malba dumping. We were glad to have an authorized collection point for malba dumping, it saved us from a lot of trouble. Another benefit was being able to get more work from contractors who were looking for responsible malba dumping options.”

Mukesh

Malba Hauler

“Collaborating with Malba Project on 2 research papers under the “Socially Relevant Projects Grant 2022-23” was a wonderful experience. They diligently documented the ground realities and uncovered ingenious innovations by the informal sector in the space. The learnings from the paper are not only shaping the academic understanding of the topic but also making us realize what solutions could be offered."

Nikhil Bugalia

Assistant Professor, IIT Madras

“The experience was wonderful. I think along with the students, we also got sensitized towards the issue of Construction & Demolition waste. We learned the need to address this issue since it contributes heavily to air pollution and is not good for the environment. We are glad to be able to be a part of this walk today.”

Kananshree & Yogita

School Teachers, Volunteers

“Construction waste is a huge challenge for the design community to tackle. Volunteering at a Malba Walk helped me learn about the challenges around C&D waste management, and also take action. We spotted and reported over 60 illegal dumping hotspots in the Lodhi District! I especially loved the fact that the founder, as an architect, took this up and is building solutions instead of just talking about it.”

Akanksha

Interior Designer, Volunteer