In this detailed feature, Rajesh Rajgor explores how Re Sustainability is redefining waste management in India—scaling up operations, driving electric mobility, and pushing the boundaries of circular economy innovation. With exclusive insights from Masood Mallick, Managing Director & Group CEO, the article sheds light on how the company is blending technology, partnerships, and purpose to turn waste into a climate-positive asset.
Re Sustainability has quietly yet powerfully emerged as one of the key forces redefining India’s approach to waste—turning what was once treated as an end-of-pipe problem into a front-facing opportunity for resource recovery, green jobs, and climate resilience. Operating across 21 states and union territories, with over 100 facilities and managing nearly 10 million tonnes of waste annually, the company’s impact is as vast as it is deep. What makes this possible is a strategic focus not only on scale but on integration—covering everything from doorstep collection to material recovery, scientific disposal, and energy generation.
“Our scale is not just about numbers—it’s about how systematically we close the loop on waste,” says Masood Mallick, Managing Director & Group CEO at Re Sustainability. “Every ton of waste we handle is treated as a resource, not a liability.”
Underpinning Re Sustainability’s operational model is a core belief in circularity and decentralization. The company has built its processes to align with India’s climate action targets under the Paris Agreement, especially the NDC commitments. From avoiding methane emissions through landfill diversion to driving material recovery, the emphasis is on turning the waste value chain into a lever for environmental and economic gains.
The 2,000-EV Fleet Driving Net-Zero Goals
One standout area of Re Sustainability’s operations is its ambitious green mobility strategy. With over 600 Tata Ace electric vehicles and more than 1,400 other specialized electric vehicles in its fleet, the company is leading the charge toward low-emission urban logistics.
“Our fleet electrification isn’t just a pilot—it’s a cornerstone of our decarbonization roadmap,” Mallick states. “We’re aiming for 75% EV penetration by FY28 and net-zero mobility in core operations by 2030.”
Electric vehicles help in more ways than one—they reduce tailpipe emissions, lower operating costs, and contribute to quieter, less disruptive waste collection in dense residential areas. These advantages become critical in India’s crowded urban centres, where citizen satisfaction with public services is often shaped by how unobtrusively they operate.
Re Sustainability’s strategy also relies heavily on strong OEM partnerships—none more prominent than its collaboration with Tata Motors. But the relationship goes beyond procurement.
“With Tata Motors, we’ve co-developed pilot programs, run performance tests, and even integrated telematics for data-driven fleet optimization,” explains Mallick. “We’re not just customers—we’re co-creators.”
Such partnerships allow for continuous feedback loops between field performance and product evolution, especially when waste-duty vehicles are expected to function in unpredictable urban environments marked by fluctuating payloads, narrow lanes, and diverse weather conditions. The company is also exploring innovative vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications, positioning its EVs as mobile energy assets in urban sustainability planning.
And how do these EVs perform in comparison to traditional diesel fleets? “We’ve recorded over 90% uptime, with range stability of up to 180 kilometres per charge,” says Mallick. “Drivers report lower fatigue, fewer vibrations, and a smoother ride—something that’s rarely talked about but matters hugely for workforce well-being.”
On total cost of ownership, the numbers are already tilting in favour of EVs. Over a five-year lifecycle, Re Sustainability sees a 12–15% cost advantage when compared to diesel, thanks to savings on fuel and fewer mechanical breakdowns. These figures are expected to improve as battery technology matures and the national EV infrastructure scales up.
Tech and Telematics Powering Urban Waste
Managing such a vast electric fleet across 19 urban zones requires a tightly knit service and maintenance ecosystem. Re Sustainability employs a hybrid model—centralized telematics-based monitoring combined with decentralized servicing.
“Our Fleet Command Center tracks everything in real-time—battery health, route deviations, and even driver behavior,” he reveals. “At the local level, we have on-call response teams and OEM-certified service centres to ensure uptime never dips.”
Technology is the glue that binds this complex system together. Re Sustainability has integrated smart route optimization, IoT-enabled bins, telematics, and its own Civic Operating System (COS) to streamline operations and interface with urban local bodies.
“This digital backbone improves service transparency, enhances ESG reporting, and supports smart city goals,” he explains. “We’re not just managing waste—we’re building the infrastructure for sustainable urban living.”
A major part of that infrastructure is the company’s growing Waste-to-Energy (WTE) portfolio, which currently stands at 100 MW, with plans to double it to 200 MW in the next few years. Rather than seeing WTE as a last resort, Re Sustainability treats it as part of a broader clean energy agenda.
“We are enhancing the calorific value of our Refuse Derived Fuel and developing hybrid energy parks by integrating WTE with solar and biogas,” shares Mallick. “Our aim is to turn urban waste into decentralised power grids.”
Tailored Models and Future-Ready Innovations
A particularly interesting direction is the development of district energy systems using WTE heat and steam—an innovation that could bring reliable, green energy to industrial clusters without adding load to traditional power infrastructure.
But India’s cities are not all the same—and Re Sustainability has tailored its approach accordingly. While metros lean on automation and real-time monitoring, tier-2 and tier-3 towns require a more hands-on approach.
“We provide training, tech workshops, and even assist in Swachh Survekshan and DPR documentation,” Mallick points out. “In smaller cities, we’re not just a vendor—we’re an embedded ecosystem partner.”
Innovation is a constant undercurrent at Re Sustainability. The company is piloting decentralized Compressed Biogas (CBG) units under the SATAT scheme, deploying AI-enabled waste sorting at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and establishing End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) recycling hubs.
“These innovations shift the conversation from waste quantity to resource quality,” he says. “They reduce landfill pressure, generate clean fuel, and create dignified employment in sectors that were once informal and hazardous.”
Looking ahead, Re Sustainability has set its sights on five core strategic thrusts: aggressive EV adoption, geographical expansion, circularity in plastics and industrial waste, digital operational transparency, and integrated environmental solutions.
“We want to mainstream circularity across all sectors—urban, industrial, commercial,” he asserts. “And through collaborations with companies like Marico and Aarti Industries, we’re building real models of scalable, sustainable value.”
To support this, the company has also launched its Integrated Sustainability Solutions (ISS) platform, covering environmental testing, ESG advisory, compliance, and digital tools to help client’s future-proof their operations. “Our core belief is that waste is not a burden—it’s a climate asset,” concludes Mallick. “If we manage it right, it can power cities, restore ecosystems, and create green livelihoods.”
In an era where climate action and economic development often appear to be on parallel tracks, Re Sustainability is forging a model where the two not only intersect—they accelerate each other.