Indian cities generate large volumes of non-recyclable dry waste every day, much of which municipal collection systems struggle to manage. Conventional waste management relies on trucks to transport rubbish to distant landfills, dumpsites, and open incinerators. As collection and transport systems struggle to keep pace, large quantities of sanitary, medical and reject waste go untreated, ending up in open burning pits, water bodies or soil as toxic liquid.
Bengaluru-based Neo San is trying to address this problem by processing non-recyclable waste where it is generated, using compact thermal treatment units.
Founded in 2022 by CEO Dhwaj Bagrecha, the cleantech startup grew out of his experience working in urban planning and waste infrastructure. Bagrecha, who holds a degree in Economics and Finance from Jain University in Bengaluru, affiliated with Bangalore University, saw how rising consumption was outpacing municipal waste management systems. This led him to develop equipment that could treat waste on-site.
Processing waste at source
Neo San's product range includes the Neo-X, a wall-mounted unit designed for washrooms and standalone commercial buildings that can process up to 25 kg of waste a day. The Neo-XT handles 150 kg a day and is intended for tech parks, small hospitals, and commercial complexes. Its third model, the AX, is designed for industrial manufacturing plants processing 500 kg or more a day.
The technology uses rapid, high-temperature electric heating based on induction principles. According to the startup, the system reaches 1,200 degrees Celsius within two minutes while consuming minimal electricity.
The thermal process reduces waste to what the company describes as sterile, non-toxic ash. Neo San is also developing hub facilities to collect the residue and convert it into building briquettes.
The startup has two granted patents for its thermal processing technology, with another 13 patent applications pending.
Bagrecha says that on a lifecycle basis, on-site treatment cuts emissions by 98% compared with collection and landfilling. “The savings come from our patented thermal process and from not trucking the waste away,” he says.
Neo San manufactures its hardware in-house and provides software tools for housekeeping staff. It operates as a managed service, maintaining the equipment and sending regular tracking reports to clients' sustainability teams.
Customers can either purchase the machines outright or pay a monthly service fee. The startup serves corporate offices, healthcare facilities, government bodies and commercial real estate clients.
Neo San describes itself as a seed-to-growth-stage startup and has raised Rs 26 crore in total funding. Its clients include Taj, Embassy, and the Government of Karnataka, along with factories and data centres, the startup says.
Over the next year, the company plans to expand its service operations into four additional states and launch a specialised version of the Neo-XT for biomedical waste processing.
Neo San is part of YourStory's Tech30 cohort—a showcase of India's most promising startups of 2026, unveiled at TechSparks Bengaluru.
Edited by Teja Lele