Darshan Chikkasiddegowda

First name
Darshan
Last name
Chikkasiddegowda
Email
[email protected]
Phone number
+91 90715 10909
How do you self-identify or would like to be identified?
Man
Do you belong to any ethnic minority group of self-identify as an indigenous person?
No
Affiliation, organization, or community
Namma Mysore Foundation
Years of professional or activism experience or of knowledge built on specific indigenous expertise
10-15 years
Country of residence
India
Languages
English
In which geographic region (and sub-region) does your work mostly focus?
Southern Asia
Mitigation
Waste management
Adaptation
Infrastructure and Urban Planning
Climate technologies
Solid waste management
Information and communication technology and digital technologies (AI and ML)
Cross-sectoral enablers
Capacity-building and training
Communication and awareness
Innovation, research, development and demonstration
Cross-cutting approaches
Community-based
Endogenous technologies
Do you have proven experience in gender and climate change issues?
Yes, my work/ area of expertise mainly focuses on gender and climate change
Mitigation
Waste management
Adaptation
Infrastructure and Urban Planning
Climate Technologies
Solid waste management
Information and communication technology and digital technologies (AI and ML)
Cross-cutting approaches
Community-based
Endogenous technologies
Cross-sectoral enablers
Capacity-building and training
Innovation, research, development and demonstration
Please provide your short bio reflecting on your academic, professional and practical background

I am Darshan C, a Mechanical Engineering graduate and sustainability professional with nearly 10 years of experience in waste management, circular economy, supply chain management, operations, ESG, EPR compliance, and recycling systems.

Throughout my career, I have worked on building practical and scalable environmental solutions focused on sustainable waste management, resource recovery, operational excellence, and circular economy implementation. I have hands-on experience in managing waste collection systems, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), plastic recycling operations, audits, environmental impact analysis, procurement, KPI management, and regulatory compliance.

Currently, I am working as Project Lead at Namma Mysore Foundation, where I lead sustainability initiatives, CSR projects, and circular economy programs aimed at creating transparent waste management systems and supporting waste worker communities.

Previously, I worked with organizations like Saahas Zero Waste Pvt Ltd, Ecohandlers Pvt Ltd, and Nidukki Trading Bahrain in operations, supply chain, ESG implementation, and waste management leadership roles.

I am also the Ex-Founder & Director of Jagruth Tech Pvt Ltd and actively involved with WASTRAQ, an AI-driven smart waste management and EPR compliance platform focused on digital waste tracking, circular economy analytics, sustainability reporting, and transparent recycling ecosystems. Through WASTRAQ, I am working towards integrating technology, data management, and sustainability to improve waste traceability and environmental compliance globally.

One of my key innovations is the patented “Eco Interlock Paver” developed from low-value plastic waste, and I was also nominated for the Earthshot Prize 2024 for my contribution towards sustainability and circular economy innovation.

My passion is to create impactful environmental solutions that combine sustainability, technology, operations, and social impact to build a cleaner and more resource-efficient future.

Provide a link to your LinkedIn account
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshanc/
Are you interested in being contacted for any of the following
Panelist at climate change event
Advisory in technical assistance project
Contributor to research/publication
Interviewed by the media