Eco start-up Mangala Resource Management opens Mulky unit to recycle plastic waste

Mangala Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. has commissioned a new plastic recycling unit in Mulky, Karnataka, to convert dry waste into high-quality plastic lumps. This facility enables the eco start-up to move beyond basic segregation to secondary recycling, specifically targeting polymers like LDPE and polypropylene for industrial reuse. The initiative bolsters rural waste management across 250 villages, significantly reducing the volume of plastic sent to cement factories or landfills.

Mangala Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. has officially commissioned a new recycling unit in Mulky, Karnataka, designed to transform plastic waste into high-quality plastic lumps, known as "gatta." According to Executive Director Ranjan Bellarpady, the facility specializes in processing discarded low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high molecular (HM) weight plastics, and polypropylene (PP) raffia. This development marks a significant advancement for the eco start-up, moving beyond basic waste segregation to a secondary level of recycling that creates value-added raw materials for the manufacturing sector. Managing Director Dilraj Alva highlighted that these recycled lumps are essential components for industries producing consumer goods like plastic chairs, buckets, and PVC pipes.

The new Mulky unit integrates with the company’s existing infrastructure, which includes four material recovery facilities (MRFs) operated for the state government in Nitte, Narikombu, Yedapadavu, and Kedambady. Historically, the start-up collected and baled plastic waste for transport to cement factories in north Karnataka. However, the commissioning of this facility allows the company to divert LDPE, HM, and PP raffia materials directly to the Mulky site for localized processing. This shift optimizes the logistics of the waste stream and ensures that high-value polymers are recovered and reused within the circular economy rather than being utilized as refuse-derived fuel in cement kilns.

On a larger scale, Mangala Resource Management’s operations serve 250 villages and recover approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste annually, impacting nearly one million people across coastal Karnataka. The company’s sorting process identifies 30 different varieties of dry waste, with Bellarpady reporting that roughly 45% of the total volume consists of valuable or recyclable materials. The remaining 55% of the waste stream is comprised of non-valuable materials such as old clothes, slippers, and multi-layer plastics like biscuit wrappers. These non-recyclable components continue to be sent to cement factories, maintaining a comprehensive approach to regional waste management and landfill diversion.