Recycling at its best! Every Indian household generates approximately 300 grams of vegetable waste per day. If these wastes are used properly, incredible things can be accomplished. Manya, a Bangalore resident in class 6, performed this feat. Manya is converting the vegetable peel waste into paper. She has always had a fascination with nature since childhood. Manya decided to do something about the city’s growing garbage problem at an early age.
Little eco-activist
Manya Harsha, a sustainability influencer works to improve India’s waste management system. She is an active volunteer at various green initiatives. She has also been recognized by UN-Water for her efforts to save the environment. This little girl is now recycling kitchen waste into eco-friendly paper every day. She is recycling kitchen waste to make chemical-free paper. The innovation would be an ideal replacement for the existing paper industry, which is becoming increasingly unsustainable. She turns the peels of onion, garlic, peas, potatoes, maize, and coconut into environmentally beneficial paper
How is it made?
Manya begins by gathering vegetable and fruit peels. She then brings them to a boil. After boiling, everything is combined to form a paste. After the paste is ready, Manya places it on a flat container or surface. The paste’s excess water is filtered and allowed to dry. Eco-friendly paper is made from peels in this manner. These papers are suitable for writing, drawing, painting, and even folding.
Potential to bring changes
Making paper from kitchen waste is not something that is commonly seen. Not every child is capable of such imaginative thinking. If this initiative is expanded or scaled up, it has the potential to be of great benefit to society. Millions of trees are cut down every year to make paper. If this idea is made an everyday activity for children, then we may be able to reduce the use of paper made by cutting down trees.
