“The field of sustainability and the circular economy is vast, not just in electronics, but also in plastics, batteries, textiles, and more. Considering our country faces significant pollution challenges, this is a critical area for investment if you want to make a difference.”
In a freewheeling chat with Entrepreneurs Today, Shalini Singh, founder of Technogreen, talks about her journey in the electronic waste recycling industry.
In terms of her educational background, she is a double post-graduate with degrees in MBA and PGDCA. Growing up with the values of a father in the Indian Air Force, Mr Sushil Singh and her mother Rekha Singh, she understood the importance of managing waste from her early childhood.
About Technogreen
Based out of Gujarat, Technogreen is one of the largest electronic waste recyclers in the state today. Although the company started in the year 2020, her journey in the recycling industry began in 2018. She explains,
“We essentially work on precious metal recovery from appliances and e‑waste, focusing on recycling various waste materials. Our company primarily handles electronic waste, but we also deal with all kinds of electronic scrap, plastic scrap, and battery scrap. As of now, we are the biggest and largest electronic waste recycling company in Gujarat.”
Reflecting on her journey, Shalini says there were no initial plans to work on recycling in the beginning. However, she noticed a surge in the concept in 2018 because of the Central Pollution Control Board’s focus on recycling and the management of used materials.
The Central Pollution Control Board also introduced a third-party role of Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), which would audit recycler’s documents and submit them to the producers. This led them to start working as a PRO.
Interviewer: The e‑waste management initiatives are associated with sustainability, which the government encourages. Did you receive funding, or is the company completely bootstrapped right now?
Shalini Singh: “We are fully supporting the circular economy and sustainability, but as of now, we haven’t received any external funding. However, the ministry and our recycling association are working on this, and we expect to receive some recycling‑linked incentives or benefits from the government in the near future.”
Having an Edge
Even though there are several competitors who are doing the same work, what gives them an edge over others is how hard their team works and their compliance management.
With proper documentation and a systematic approach, they have been able to secure business without major hurdles. Moreover, their working style, machinery, and technology set them apart. She shares,
“I operate two recycling plants in Gujarat, and no one else here has the same advanced machinery or technology. As a result, we’re considered one of the top three recyclers in India.”
The Initial Troubles
Looking back at her journey, there have been several challenges, especially between 2017-18, in terms of procurement of waste materials. Shalini explains how difficult it was to educate people about the proper way of e-waste and how comfortable they were with the informal system of disposing of waste. People were used to the system of giving their waste materials to the kabadiwalas who would come collect waste from their homes, get paid and take the material.
Educating people about proper waste management was even more daunting than asking them to drive their waste to a recycler. They did not understand how improper disposal could impact their health.
Interviewer: What are some of the strategies you have found effective in driving awareness and adoption of sustainable waste practices?
Shalini Singh: “We shifted our approach by organising engaging activities, almost like curriculum-based events. For example, we organised a marathon that attracted more than 5,000 participants. We invited everyone to bring any waste material from their home to our premises, and in return, we offered them something. This not only sparked interest but also connected people with the idea that these actions benefit both the environment and their own health. Following that marathon, we received numerous calls from households, companies, and corporations interested in waste pickup services.”
The second challenge was, as Shalini notes,
“The rag pickers initially saw us as competitors who were taking away their livelihood. It took time to show them that we were there to support them. We eventually helped many rag pickers formalise their work by registering them as GST‑compliant companies, ensuring they have a fixed source of income in a proper, regulated manner.”
Another challenge was balancing business growth with environmental responsibilities, as their revenue mainly came from recycling end products. However, the Central Pollution Control Board was stringent with the fact that it was the producers’ responsibility to recycle their waste. Since a bulk of the organisations did not have the infrastructure for that, they relied heavily on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. Shalini reveals,
“We charge them on a per‑kilogram basis. For instance, if they provide us with 50,000 metric tons, we might charge around 15–22 rupees per kg. This system significantly contributes to our revenue”
Celebrating Feats
One of Shalini’s achievements includes being recognised as the Women Entrepreneur in Recycling by the Recommerce Circular Economy Vision Award. They were also awarded during the Recommerce Expo Third Edition, 2022 and Iconic Business Summit & Awards. She was also rewarded by Pushottam Rupalaji, a Member of Lok Sabha.
So far they have collaborated with AMC, GMC, colleges, and schools, with the team organising 2-3 activities in a month to educate people about sustainability with road shows and environmental safety events. Additionally, they have quarterly events as well with Parul University and others.
Future Looks Bright
Even though it is hard to say how much they will be able to achieve in the next five years, she still envisions herself as someone who pursues her dreams relentlessly. By the next few years, she plans on adding another recycling plant. As she mentions, the current recycling capacity of her plant is 23,000 metric tons for this financial year, and she wants it to reach 50,000 metric tons by the next year, making it the largest in India.
Shalini also has plans to venture into automobile recycling as the sector is expanding by the day. She mentions,
“Having already worked on battery recycling, my next focus is automobile recycling, along with importing metal and setting up a proper furnace. These are the two major projects I’m targeting over the next three years.”
With years of experience under the belt, Shalini has some golden words for budding entrepreneurs. She signs off by saying,
“Just trust the process and believe in yourself. That’s what has worked for me. If you truly want to do something, then go for it. Waiting for the perfect time might mean you never start. You have to take the initiative and experiment. There will be ups and downs, but if you have strong willpower, you will achieve your goals.”
