Heroes come in many forms: the daring superhero, the self-sacrificing parent, or the guiding mentor. But for Henik Gala and Shreyas Jain Jalapur, their hero was found in an unexpected place — the local scrap collector.
His shop, across from their Thane school, became a daily lesson in a critical issue: waste management. “He was our role model,” Henik explains, “tackling a problem that remains urgent.”
This fascination blossomed into action. In 2023, Henik and Shreyas launched ScrapJi, a startup that transforms inspiration into tangible impact, now recycling a remarkable 10 tonnes of scrap monthly in Thane, Maharashtra.
From inspiration to action
Collecting waste and recycling was a practice that Henik (26) and Shreyas (26) had picked up during their school days. “We became friends while discussing the growing trash problem in our communities and India,” shares Shreyas.
Their journey began with simple acts. “After school, we’d collect litter and take it to the local vendor,” Henik recalls. “It was our small way of contributing.” But conversations with these vendors revealed a disconnect.
“They saw it as a means to survive, not an environmental solution,” Shreyas explains. This sparked a desire to change perceptions. Since 2012, Henik and Shreyas were drawn to the scrap industry, but its image troubled them. “Back then, it was seen as a last resort,” Henik says. They envisioned something different.
Though they pursued separate paths — Henik in management and Shreyas in automobile engineering — their passion for recycling never waned. “Ten years later, India’s waste problem had only worsened,” Henik notes.
In 2023, they decided to act. “We’d work within the industry and drive change,” Henik says. Their goal: to organise the scrap sector, creating a true circular economy, from collection to recycling.
Learning from local vendors
But understanding the nuances of the scrap industry required more than just good intentions.
“We started by collecting waste from homes ourselves,” Shreyas explains. “We needed to understand the ground realities, the market’s volatility, and sales management.”
“We spent a year learning from local vendors,” Henik adds, “studying their pricing, interactions, and challenges.” Bootstrapping their venture presented significant hurdles. “We were determined to be independent,” Henik says, “without relying on our parents.”
In 2023, a lack of storage forced them to use Henik’s home in Dombivli. “Henik lived in a tiny flat with nine family members, no lift,” Shreyas recalls. “Imagine hauling hundreds of kilos of newspapers up and down those stairs!”
Despite these hardships, their dedication paid off. “Within months, we were exceeding the volumes of dealers who’d been in business for decades,” Henik shares. Their customer-focused approach, combined with their professional backgrounds, built trust. Personal visits and word-of-mouth referrals helped them quickly acquire around 2,000 customers.
Dinesh Karthik joins ScrapJi
Even as their business grew, new challenges arose. “Our EV tempo, meant to be sustainable, became a major problem,” Henik explains. “Last July, it constantly broke down, forcing us to push loaded vehicles for kilometres.”
Amidst these operational struggles, they were also pursuing an unlikely partnership. “We were trying to get Dinesh Karthik, the cricketer, involved,” Henik says, “which many thought was crazy for a scrap startup.”
Despite initial silence, a call from Karthik’s manager changed everything, validating their vision. Karthik’s involvement went beyond mere endorsement. “He opted for equity,” Shreyas shares, “showing his commitment to our 2030 goals.” He also pledged to open government doors and connect them with investors, offering invaluable support.
How does ScrapJi function?
ScrapJi’s service model, while similar to local vendors, offers a crucial difference. “Our service model shares similarities with local scrap vendors, where we both offer doorstep collection,” acknowledges Henik.
However, what makes them different is identifying the limitations of the traditional approach. “Local vendors often operate with limitations that lack consistency. A kabaadiwala (scrap-collector) might return to his storage facility without collecting from all the households because no space remained in their push-cart,” shares Shreyas.
Understanding this, the duo introduced technology to coordinate pickup timings. “Customers schedule pickups through our website or WhatsApp,” Henik explains, and the collection is performed by their pickup executives. “The customers get money based on the weight of the scrap provided,” adds Shreyas.
A specialised team segregates the materials in their storage facility, ensuring they are sent to recyclers. Their approach is also driven by a clear vision. “We focus on transparency and fair market rates for our customers. More than gaining profit, we want to ensure that household trash is disposed of in an apt manner,” Henik says.
Small start-up, big impact
With 10-15 daily pickups from customers and recycling 10 tonnes of trash every month with the help of seven third-party recyclers, the duo are making slow but consistent changes in the scrap industry. “We have achieved a revenue of Rs 25 lakh for this financial year. We are targeting Rs 1 crore in 2025,” shares Shreyas.
“Working with ScrapJi has been a rewarding experience. The fact that I can play a small part in ensuring scrap gets segregated well and reaches the recycling facility makes me feel happy,” shares Pratik Saktal, a 26-year-old pickup executive.
Their ambition extends beyond business success. “Our goal is to reach everyone, from the Prime Minister to newborns, emphasising the importance of sustainable waste management,” Henik says.
“Carrying scrap from Dombivli to main Mumbai for recycling was a difficult task earlier. Now, scheduling it according to my convenience is helpful,” shares Asmita Porohit Deoghare, a customer of ScrapJi since 2023.
“Reaching our first crore in revenue will be a crucial milestone. With Dinesh Karthik’s support, our reach and impact have multiplied tenfold. In India, cricketers have immense influence,” shares Henik.
Building a trash-free India
ScrapJi’s vision includes organising the fragmented scrap industry. “Eventually, we will need experienced people from the field. And we will have to make a team from both ends of the spectrum — from CMOs to the local vendors,” Shreyas explains. They plan to integrate local kabaadiwalas into their model, creating a unified network.
“The Government is trying hard to sort out the problem of waste management, starting from Swatch Bharath, but I feel it’s the mindset of the people that needs to change,” Shreyas avers.
“Our vision for a trash-free India by 2030 requires two key elements: community engagement and financial sustainability,” Henik states. “Once our current model is proven scalable, it will be relatively easy to implement in other states and cities, making us closer to our trash-free goal day-by-day,” he adds.
“If just 10% of the population joins our efforts, the impact would be transformative. If two people can recycle 10 tons of waste per month, imagine what a collective effort could achieve,” shares Henik.
Henik and Shreyas believe in the potential of their generation to drive change. “Youngsters who want to enter the scrap industry consider themselves as ‘Avengers’,” says Henik. The duo’s ambition to make India trash-free by 2030 is not just a dream; it’s a mission fuelled by passion, hard work, and a belief in the collective power of change.
For more details about the startup, you can visit their website.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All images courtesy ScrapJi
