Mumbai Moms Turn 1,500 kg of Citrus Waste Into Cleaners

Every day, juice stalls across Mumbai toss thousands of lemon and orange peels into the trash. Two mothers saw something different: the raw material for a cleaning revolution.

In 2019, Sonia Verma and Farheen Ali met through a homeschooling community in Mumbai. Both were already experimenting with bioenzymes at home, searching for sustainable alternatives to chemical-heavy cleaners.

Their kitchen experiments worked so well they wondered if others might want the same solution. In 2022, they took the leap and launched Urthy, starting with just two fermentation drums on Farheen's terrace.

The process is surprisingly simple. Citrus peels, jaggery and water ferment together for about three months, creating a liquid packed with beneficial bacteria and enzymes that naturally break down dirt and grime.

Instead of letting peels rot in landfills and release methane, Urthy sources them from local juice vendors. What was once waste becomes the foundation for multipurpose cleaners, laundry detergent and even plant care products.

The science backs up their mission. According to the founders, their activated citrus bioenzyme reduces water pollution markers by 30 to 50 percent and boosts soil microbial activity by up to 30 percent.

What started as 50-litre batches has grown into more than 40 fermentation units. In four years, Urthy has diverted over 1,500 kg of citrus waste from landfills while building a loyal customer base of 200+ families.

Ruchi from Bhubaneswar uses Urthy's products throughout her home. "Knowing fewer harsh chemicals were entering the soil and water offered mental peace," she says.

The Ripple Effect

Every bottle of Urthy cleaner creates multiple wins. Juice vendors get rid of waste they would otherwise pay to dispose of, gaining a small income instead. Families get effective, toxin-free products that don't harm their health or the environment. Waterways receive fewer harsh chemicals, while landfills get less methane-producing waste.

The impact extends beyond individual households. Urthy now consults with commercial spaces looking to green their cleaning practices, potentially scaling the environmental benefits even further.

Today, Urthy offers 15 products across home care, personal hygiene and plant care. For Sonia and Farheen, the journey proves that sustainable living doesn't require sacrifice or complexity—sometimes it just takes seeing possibility where others see trash.