What happens after 50,000 cricket fans leave a stadium? At the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, India answered that question with action. Through the #MaidaanSaaf campaign, over 111,000 kg of waste was managed across five cities with an impressive 84.64% segregation rate. This wasn’t just cleanup, it was a high-pressure, real-time system tackling massive waste surges, fan behavior, and operational challenges. From zero-waste benchmarks in Ahmedabad and Chennai to hard lessons in

Large sports events in India used to leave behind mountains of mixed waste, but that’s changing fast. What we saw at the 2025 and 2026 cricket tournaments is a clear shift from simple cleanup to smart, real-time waste management. With better bin placement, on-ground volunteers guiding fans, and proper segregation into multiple waste streams, the system is becoming more efficient and practical. Initiatives like #MaidaanSaaf show that when infrastructure and human behaviour are