Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu to Deploy Six Waste and Water Technologies
A new programme will help six companies use their waste and water ideas in real city services.
It is called TN-CIRCLE.
The programme will start in Chennai and Tiruchy.
The companies may work on cleaning wastewater, recycling waste, saving water, and repairing water systems.
City governments will first explain the problems they need solved.
Then the programme will choose technologies that fit those problems.
The projects aim to handle 1,000 metric tonnes of waste and 15 million litres of water.
They also aim to help more than 100,000 people.
The organisers want successful pilot projects to continue as regular municipal services.
The 18-month TN-CIRCLE programme will help six waste and used-water ventures move from pilots into municipal systems.
The initiative will initially operate in Chennai and Tiruchy, with possible expansion to other Tamil Nadu cities.
Its targets include managing 1,000 metric tonnes of waste, treating or reusing 15 million litres of water, and reaching more than 100,000 people.
Municipal bodies will identify operational needs before ventures are evaluated, matched with city hosts, and deployed.
The programme seeks to solve the difficulty startups face in securing municipal buyers and budgets after pilot projects end.
- Who
- The University of Toronto India Foundation and Villgro Innovations Foundation, working with municipal bodies and six technology ventures.
- What
- An 18-month programme called TN-CIRCLE will move tested waste and used-water technologies from pilot projects into municipal deployment.
- When
- The programme will run for 18 months; the articles do not give a specific launch date.
- Where
- Initially in Chennai and Tiruchy, Tamil Nadu, with possible expansion to other urban centres in the state.
- Why
- To help cities address waste, wastewater and water-management needs while overcoming the difficulty of sustaining technologies after pilot projects.
- Programme
- Tamil Nadu–Circular Innovation, Resource & Climate Leadership Ecosystem (TN-CIRCLE)
- Duration
- 18 months
- Number of ventures
- Six waste and used-water technology ventures
- Initial locations
- Chennai and Tiruchy
- Waste target
- Reduce, recycle or repurpose 1,000 metric tonnes of waste
- Water target
- Save, treat or reuse 15 million litres of water
- People reached
- More than 100,000 people
- Lead challenge
- Connecting successful pilots with municipal buyers and budget lines