Can you be successful while doing what you love? Kabadiwalla Connect, a for-profit recycling business, has changed the concept of waste management by recycling PET bottles and other plastic waste in a productive manner, and treating plastic waste as a commodity that can be profitably utilized. This concept fulfills Siddharth Hande’s dream and helps the environment, at the same time. It also is beneficial for the unorganized sector, commonly known as “rag-pickers” who are helped to collect the waste from households and various other sources. His efforts for change in this area have been appreciated and awarded by various organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the World Bank. Speaking at the TEDxPanchgani, Siddharth kept the audience enthralled and entertained with the story of his changing Life journey, and the eclectic interests that he has pursued. From Pro Tennis player, to Musician, to Biologist, to Social Activist – Sid’s career path has never been a straight one! Yet, he has been able to draw inspiration from everything in his past and put it to good use while achieving the ultimate change and finding his dream.

Siddharth Hande has been involved in a wide range of interests before he found his true calling. Although he is a spatial data analyst by training, he is keenly interested in social entrepreneurship, technology, urban planning, informality and the circular economy in the developing world. He is the founder of Kabadiwalla Connect, an award winning social enterprise in the field of waste management. Prior to Kabadiwalla Connect, he worked as a consultant in some of India’s premier urban policy and research think tanks, including the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability at IIT-Madras, The Indian Institute for Human Settlements and the Institute for Financial Management and Research. His keen intellect and wide-ranging interests make him the ideal Social Entrepreneur!

This talk was given at TEDxPanchgani an event held at Ravine Hotel using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx