Innovation

YIMBY offers a diverse range of services, including solid and liquid waste management, turnkey projects, and awareness programs aimed at promoting sustainable practices. Their approach emphasizes convenience, time-saving, and cost reduction, providing high-quality waste handling and storage products, plug-and-play sewage treatment plants, and educational initiatives. By focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, YIMBY empowers communities to contribute to a cleaner, greener environment through technology like:

1. Plug and Play STP

Ready to install STP based on Johkasou Technology. “Treat at site, reuse at site”

2. Johkasou Technology

Johkasou systems treat wastewater from toilets, kitchens, baths, and laundry machines. They use a combination of biological and physical processes to remove contaminants and produce clean effluents.

Challenges and growth

“The only challenge is people”, answered Pokle when asked about his business challenges. The most challenging aspect about waste management, according to Gaurav, was how people would behave. “Changing behavioural patterns is a challenge,” he remarks. He says that although there was a general understanding that wastes are potential health risks, the efforts to motivate people to modify their behaviour accordingly were in vain.

He compares the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the power of collective community effort in overcoming challenges. In an example, he comments that people litter because they find it convenient which is a mindset that needs to be worked upon.

Apart from his business prerogative, Gaurav also sheds light on how he handles stress. He believes that if one does not look at stress as stress, but as a habitual or routine thing at work, then a lot of the stress-related problems can be avoided. He handles stress with a smile on his face which is also his philosophy while doing business. He says people should give more importance to every passing moment rather than stressing about the future. This optimistic mindset has been pivotal to his entrepreneurial journey.

Gaurav also sheds light on the fact that the industry converting waste into recyclable products operates at the intersection of environmental responsibility and economic opportunity but is riddled with significant challenges. One major issue lies in waste collection and segregation, as many regions lack robust infrastructure to sort waste at the source effectively. This inefficiency leads to contamination and reduces the recyclability of materials. Moreover, navigating varying regulatory frameworks across regions adds complexity, as recycling businesses must adhere to strict and often inconsistent environmental standards.

However, despite these challenges, Gaurav believes the industry offers significant avenues for growth, driven by technological advancements and shifting global priorities. Innovations such as artificial intelligence-driven sorting systems, chemical recycling methods, and scalable upcycling solutions are revolutionizing efficiency and output. Policies like stricter waste management regulations and financial incentives further stimulate the industry's development. Additionally, growing consumer awareness about sustainability and corporate commitments to ESG goals are pushing organizations to incorporate recycled materials into their supply chains. Emerging markets, particularly in developing countries where waste generation is increasing, represent untapped potential for new recycling ventures. Moreover, upcycling initiatives that transform waste into high-value products, such as eco-friendly textiles and innovative construction materials, are broadening the scope of what recycling can achieve.

Inspiration

Gaurav Pokle founded YIMBY, an initiative born from a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in waste management in India. Gaurav realized there was a critical gap between the increasing waste problem and the lack of effective, sustainable solutions to address it. This realization motivated him to create YIMBY, an initiative that brings innovative, localized waste management solutions to communities.

What makes it interesting is that Gaurav's initial step was pretty much a basic idea yet truly deep: that of bridging the problem and the solution. He found all the gaps left in existing centralized waste management, best practices and emerging trends for the sustainability of the business, but was entrepreneurial about his very belief about how waste management might be revolutionized through the very thoughtful approach and systemic integration.

For him, what would really drive him is finding a chance that others do not recognize and seeing the impact he is making from his work. Smaller successes come together over time, he shares, such as reducing waste entering the landfills or turning something valueless into something valuable. Seeing an appreciative workforce is also satisfying. It's that realization of making a difference not only for the environment but also in providing jobs and empowering communities that really fuels his commitment.

Overall impact

Gaurav Pokle defines growth and success in terms of value addition. One of his achievements is a waste management project in Chikale where an entire year of working efficiently without any litter problem was celebrated by local Christians by felicitating his staff. According to Pokle, such recognition is synonymous with success. He also recalls how he started as a team of two and now his team strength is 150+ strong. He says that this is real growth as these 150 people now have a higher purchasing power and can now provide opportunities to other people as well. This people-centred approach represents his holistic vision of growth and success, rooted in empowerment and collective progress.

“That’s how you build an economy”, remarks Gaurav while highlighting how the change in the purchasing power of his workforce has a trickle-down effect wherein these individuals in turn generate employment for others in the area.

Environmentally, he talks about how every bit of value generated from waste gives him the impetus to keep going. “You make something out of waste, however small, it gives you an inspiration-that this waste is not going into landfills” is how he sums up the metric he employs to measure his company’s environmental impact.

He highlights the need to balance these two impacts so that the company is environmentally and socially sustainable. He remarks, “Initially, it is a basic idea and then what good you do keeps inspiring you. You cannot have that feeling on day one. It is a gradual process.”

Business benefit

Balancing Sustainability and Profitability

Often when one looks at a company working in the domain of sustainability or environmental impact, one wonders as to how the company manages its business profitability. Gaurav says he has a very clear framework for doing business in this line wherein he tries and separates the sustainability and the profit-making aspects of the venture.

“Business is business”

Gaurav says that sustainability has nothing to do with business, and just because he is working in this domain does not imply that he has to forgo his profits or revenue. “Business is profit and loss. You give a service, you have to get paid”, he says while stressing how it is very important to stand your ground while conducting business. He shares instances of people asking him to lower his prices, touting that ‘this is just picking up litter.’ However, when you know what you bring to the table, you should know your worth as well. It is one’s responsibility to ensure that the work is done perfectly; “the right way”. But the right way requires the right price and one should stand firm to it.

Pricing the Service

Gaurav often stresses the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset. How you are pricing your product is a function of your business acumen and entrepreneurial skill set. He says he makes sure to price it in such a way that it is among the lowest in the market, while at the same time making up for the costs incurred like manufacturing or storage costs to name a few.

He says that while his business is in the domain of sustainability, sustainability is for waste management and the processes that come next. If somebody wants to manage or treat or dispose of their waste the company is there to ensure it is a smooth process. But the services require an appropriate cost and that is the simple framework that keeps his business going profitably.

Social and environmental benefit

Future vision

Waste aid and management envisions a future where waste is not merely discarded but transformed into opportunities for environmental sustainability and community well-being. Positioned as a one-stop shop for safe and responsible waste management solutions, the initiative aims to redefine how businesses and individuals perceive and handle waste. By integrating innovative technologies with eco-conscious practices, Inovativa aspires to create a circular economy where waste materials are efficiently recycled, repurposed and reintegrated into the production cycle. The initiative is committed to fostering awareness, promoting education, and enabling action in waste segregation and management, empowering communities to contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. With a forward-looking approach, Inovativa seeks to collaborate with industries, governments, and local stakeholders to implement scalable and sustainable waste solutions, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations while championing social responsibility. This vision not only addresses the pressing challenges of waste disposal but also paves the way for a resilient and sustainable future.

Message for founders and communities

Success in the waste management industry lies in focus, clarity of purpose, and the ability to provide actionable solutions. According to Gaurav, as founders, it's crucial to define your niche and strive to become a master in that space. Waste management is a critical area that demands not just ideas but practical, scalable solutions that address real-world challenges. Avoid diluting your efforts by chasing every opportunity; instead, channel your energy into creating sustainable, impactful change within a defined scope.

Initiatives like Yimby demonstrate that waste can and should be managed responsibly at the source, reducing reliance on large-scale transportation and centralized facilities. This approach not only minimizes environmental impact but also empowers individuals and societies to take control of their ecological footprint.

For those entering this sector, the key is to pair environmental ethics with business acumen. Offer solutions that address waste across its lifecycle—collection, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal—while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. Always ensure your business aligns with principles of responsibility and innovation.

Finally, remember: having a vision is not enough; you need to back it up with solutions. The goal is not just to oppose harmful practices but to offer actionable alternatives. By doing so, you contribute meaningfully to both the environment and the community, leaving a legacy of responsible enterprise and sustainable growth.

Interview

Gaurav Pokle, Founder and CEO