Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted a unique initiative in Chhattisgarh during the 127th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, praising a model that blends civic responsibility with nourishment.

How the Garbage Cafe works

The Garbage Cafe in Ambikapur allows visitors to enjoy meals in exchange for plastic waste instead of money. Discarded carrier bags, food wrappers, and water bottles are accepted as payment.

“In lieu of one kilogram of garbage, you can get a good lunch or dinner; for half a kilogram, you can get breakfast,” the Prime Minister explained, commending the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation (AMC) for introducing this innovative approach.

Menu and accessibility

The cafe offers a wholesome lunch or dinner consisting of rice, two vegetable curries, dal, roti, salad, and pickles. Breakfast features popular street food such as samosas and vada pav.

Launched in 2019 under the slogan “More the waste, better the taste”, the initiative is funded through AMC’s sanitation budget and is strategically located near Ambikapur’s main bus stand.

Tackling hunger and pollution

The Garbage Cafe emerged as a solution to two pressing urban issues: plastic pollution and food insecurity. By exchanging waste for meals, it encourages ragpickers and low-income residents to collect plastic from streets and landfills, providing sustenance while helping clean the city.

Impact and significance

Though serving a modest number daily, the cafe represents an inventive approach to urban challenges, combining environmental care with social welfare. Ambikapur’s Garbage Cafe demonstrates that sustainable, community-driven solutions can flourish even in small cities, offering hope and civic pride alongside a warm meal.