Earth5R: Pioneering a Global Movement for Sustainability and Climate Action

 Earth5R’s Practical Steps to Urban Composting Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic materials like food scraps, leaves, and paper into nutrient-rich soil. This decomposition process is driven by microorganisms, fungi, and insects, transforming waste into valuable compost that enhances soil quality. In this article we present you the Earth5R’s practical steps to urban composting. While composting is traditionally associated with rural or agricultural settings, it is equally important in urban environments where organic waste contributes significantly to municipal solid waste. In cities, food and garden waste make up a large portion of household and school-generated trash. When sent to landfills, organic waste decomposes anaerobically, releasing methane — a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Additionally, urban waste management systems are often overburdened, leading to pollution and increased landfill costs. Composting reduces waste, lower...

 Earth5R’s Mithi River Community Cleanup Model A River in Crisis – The Mithi River’s Tale of Neglect and Hope In the heart of Mumbai, a city known for its towering skyscrapers and relentless hustle, flows the Mithi River—or rather, what once was a river. Today, it resembles a murky drain, choking with industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and plastic waste. Once a vital artery of the city’s drainage system, the Mithi has now become a symbol of urban neglect.  According to a 2020 report by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the river’s water quality index was recorded at an alarming level of 41 out of 100, categorizing it as “heavily polluted.” The river’s biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), a key indicator of organic pollution, frequently exceeds the permissible limit of 3 mg/L, rendering the water unfit for any form of consumption or aquatic life.  The plight of the Mithi River is not unique. Rivers in urban areas across the world are rapidly deteriorating du...

  Earth5R’s Dharavi Model: Community-Driven Plastic Recycling Initiative Earth5R’s Dharavi Model: A Grassroots Revolution in Plastic Recycling In the heart of Mumbai, where the city’s relentless urban sprawl meets one of Asia’s largest slums, a silent yet significant environmental revolution is underway. Dharavi, home to nearly a million people, produces an estimated 600 metric tonnes of waste every day, with a substantial portion being plastic.  Yet, despite its label as a slum, Dharavi is also a hub of informal recycling where small-scale businesses, waste pickers, and local residents collaborate in a loosely organized yet remarkably effective recycling economy. Here, plastic bottles, wrappers, and packaging waste are collected, sorted, and processed into reusable materials—offering not only a solution to the city’s mounting plastic crisis but also a source of livelihood for thousands. Plastic waste has become an escalating crisis in India. According to the Central Pollution...

 How Earth5R’s Decentralized Composting Model Improves Waste Management Waste management is one of the biggest environmental challenges faced by cities and communities worldwide. Every day, millions of tons of waste are generated, much of which ends up in landfills or incinerators, contributing to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and health hazards. Overcrowded landfills release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while improper waste disposal leads to soil and water contamination. Traditional, centralized waste management systems often struggle to handle growing waste volumes efficiently, leading to higher costs and environmental degradation. One promising solution to this crisis is decentralized composting—a method that processes organic waste close to its source, such as in homes, schools, and communities. By converting food scraps and biodegradable waste into nutrient-rich compost, this approach reduces landfill dependence, lowers transportation costs, and enriches soil healt...

  As cities expand and concrete jungles replace natural ecosystems, the need for large-scale tree-planting campaigns has become more urgent than ever. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world loses approximately 4.7 million hectares of forest annually—an area larger than Denmark.  This alarming deforestation rate contributes significantly to climate change, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss. In urban areas, the consequences of shrinking green spaces are evident in rising temperatures, increased air pollution, and decreased quality of life. To counteract this, tree-planting campaigns have emerged as practical, scalable solutions, restoring biodiversity while fostering environmental stewardship. Moreover, such campaigns offer educational opportunities for children and students, teaching them about ecology and sustainability in a hands-on manner. Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology highlights that individuals invo...