Harvesting the Heap: Reimagining Waste Management in Kochi, India by National Institute of Design, India

Kochi, a bustling coastal city in the Southern part of India, grapples with a growing waste crises threatening its charm, heritage and sustainability. This project dives deep into the city’s waste ecosystem, unravelling it’s brilliantly tangled web of materials, stakeholders and systems. The plethora of data and inferences have been put down as a Gigamap, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and untapped opportunities. Blending sustainability, technology, and community-driven solutions, this work is aimed at being the first step in reimagining a future where waste isn’t just discarded but transformed. It’s more than just a map—it’s a vision for a cleaner, more resilient Kochi and a blueprint for cities, communities and even organisations seeking sustainable change.