Ajinkya Dhariya PadCare Labs story highlights a problem most cities prefer to ignore. Used sanitary pads pile up in landfills, drains, and open dumping grounds. They also pass through the hands of waste pickers without protection. At 28, Ajinkya Dhariya, founder of PadCare Labs, is working on a direct solution. His company has built a patented system to recycle used sanitary pads and recover material for reuse.

India produces millions of sanitary pads each day. Most contain plastic and chemicals. They do not break down for hundreds of years. PadCare Labs focuses on this single waste stream and builds systems around it.

A Problem Seen Firsthand

Ajinkya Dhariya grew up in Mhasla, a town in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. After completing his degree in mechanical engineering, he began studying local waste systems. During visits to landfills, he noticed large volumes of sanitary pads mixed with other waste.

He also saw waste pickers sorting this material by hand. Many had no gloves or masks. The health risk was clear. At the time, India had no proper method to recycle sanitary waste. Burning caused toxic emissions. Dumping shifted the problem elsewhere.

Dhariya has said this gap pushed him to act. He saw a need for a system that handled sanitary waste safely and at scale.

Founding PadCare Labs

In 2018, Dhariya launched PadCare Labs in Pune. The early response was mixed. Many questioned whether sanitary pad recycling could work as a business. Some doubted the technology itself.

Dhariya focused on building a working system. The result was PadCare X, a mechanical recycling process designed for absorbent hygiene products. The system breaks down used sanitary pads, separates pulp and plastic, and converts them into usable industrial material.

The process avoids incineration. It limits manual handling. This makes it safer for workers and reduces pollution.

Building a Closed System

PadCare Labs does not work on recycling alone. The company also provides disposal bins for washrooms. These bins allow women to discard pads in a sealed and safe way.

PadCare then manages collection and transport to its recycling facilities. This creates a closed loop. Waste moves from washrooms to processing units without entering open dumping grounds.

This system reduces exposure for waste workers and improves hygiene at the source.

Scaling Operations

PadCare Labs began with limited capacity. The system handled about 1,000 pads per day in its early phase. Over time, the company refined its machines and logistics.

Today, PadCare X processes close to 60,000 pads per day. In 2023, the company opened its first material recovery facility in Pune. The plant can process 1.5 metric tonnes of sanitary waste each day.

So far, PadCare Labs has recycled 138 metric tonnes of sanitary waste. The company estimates it saves around 100 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year by diverting waste from landfills and burning.

Clients and City Presence

PadCare Labs operates across 19 Indian cities. It works with more than 550 organisations. Its services reach close to one million women through offices, factories, schools, and institutions.

Its clients include firms such as Meta, Pfizer, P&G, Thermax, Mercedes-Benz, and Mahindra. These organisations use PadCare’s bins and recycling services as part of their waste management systems.

The company provides waste reports and compliance data. This helps clients track environmental impact and meet internal sustainability goals.

Worker Safety and Dignity

A key focus of PadCare Labs is worker safety. Traditional waste systems expose workers to health risks. PadCare’s process reduces direct contact with sanitary waste.

The recycling units use enclosed machines. Workers receive training and protective gear. This improves working conditions and reduces stigma linked to handling menstrual waste.

Dhariya has said that treating sanitary waste as a material problem helps remove social discomfort around the subject.

Funding and Public Attention

PadCare Labs received national attention after Dhariya appeared on Shark Tank India. He raised ₹5 crore in funding from Peyush Bansal of Lenskart and Namita Thapar of Emcure Pharmaceuticals.

The company also received backing from Rainmatter, the investment arm founded by Nithin Kamath, and Social Alpha.

Manoj Kumar, founder of Social Alpha, has said the investment aligned with the need to address overlooked environmental problems. Menstrual waste remains one of them.

Financial Position and New Plans

PadCare Labs reports that it has been EBITDA-positive for the past two quarters. The company operates at an annual run rate of about $1.5 million.

Dhariya says the company is exploring carbon credits and plastic credits. These markets reward verified waste reduction and recycling. If approved, they could add a steady revenue stream.

The company is also studying expansion to new cities and larger recovery plants. Demand from companies and institutions continues to rise as waste rules tighten.

Why Menstrual Waste Matters

Sanitary waste sits at the intersection of health, environment, and labour. Many cities treat it as general waste. This shifts risk to landfills and workers.

PadCare Labs focuses on one category and builds depth. Experts say such focused systems matter as India moves toward circular waste models.

By recovering plastic and pulp, PadCare reduces long-term pollution. It also sets a precedent for handling other hygiene waste streams.

Looking Ahead

Ajinkya Dhariya’s work shows how targeted engineering can address hidden problems. PadCare Labs does not try to fix all waste. It works on one type and builds systems around it.

As urban waste grows and sustainability rules strengthen, sanitary waste management will draw more attention. Ajinkya Dhariya PadCare Labs story now sits at the centre of that shift.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Ajinkya Dhariya?
Ajinkya Dhariya is an Indian entrepreneur and mechanical engineer. He is the founder of PadCare Labs, a company focused on recycling used sanitary pads.

Q2. What is PadCare Labs?
PadCare Labs is an Indian waste management startup that has developed a patented system to recycle sanitary pad waste into usable materials.

Q3. How old is Ajinkya Dhariya?
Ajinkya Dhariya is 28 years old.

Q4. How does PadCare X work?
PadCare X breaks down used sanitary pads, separates pulp and plastic, and recovers material for industrial use while reducing landfill waste.