Diwali 2016: Plastic waste, glass bottles and paper scraps to light homes

Pic courtesy: Thinkstock image for representation purpose only.

Kota: Plastic scraps and metal waste turned into decorative light strings and 'diyas' will light up homes here this Diwali.

In their endeavour to save the environment, girls from a Kota-based shelter home 'Naari Nikataan' have turned waste plastic and glass bottles, boxes and cartons and metal into decorative pieces.

"The items made by them were sold in a two-day exhibition-cum-workshop at Rain Basera Park. The event saw a huge footfall. It was a big encouragement for them," Bharti Gaud, secretary at Sachetan Society, a Kota-based NGO, said.

The initiative was part of the society's 'Up-cycling the Waste' campaign, she said, adding the exhibited items were priced between Rs 75 to Rs 300.

"The money earned from the sale will be used for skill development programmes for the girls at Naari Niketan," she said.

The city-based NGO runs an art-and-craft centre for the girls and has been imparting skill development programmes for the past three years.

"All the decorative items are made from waste plastic and glass bottles, and cartons and paper boxes. Like the vertical and horizontal light strings with decorative flowers, are made from waste plastic bottles and the diyas from waste aluminium and candles," she said.

Around 80 gram of plastic from bottles were used to make the strings, Gaud said.

Elaborating on her oganisation's 'Up-Cycling Waste' campaign, she said, "Sachetan has a fifth principle to waste management. It's called 'Up-Cycle the Waste'. It is in addition to the existing principles of reuse, refuse, defuse and recycle waste."