Making the best out of waste

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Zero waste is a unique way of looking at one’s resources. It is one of the most futuristic, current and profound ways through which modern societal change is envisaged in the world today. It involves the process of segregation, reuse, reduce and recycle. A lot of used materials are thus converted into useful materials.

On a zero waste mission, a self-help group in the city is functioning under the Thanal group, making items using cloth, coconut shells and paper. It has been two years since the group started functioning as a unit in Sasthamangalam. This group comprises three different divisions and each one is handled by an expert. While Sabina deals with paper products, Sheela makes products using coconut shells and Jubaria creates banners and cloth bags using different themes and sceneries.

“We make different kinds of products which will be helpful for people and are pollution-free,” Sujatha, the coordinator of the centre, tells Express. “We even receive orders from the Corporation for eco-friendly products.” The centre, which is part of the Zero Waste Kovalam, has been giving training classes to people who wish to learn how to make use of discarded materials. Hence, their objective is product design and development, imparting training and building awareness about resource use. “We reuse the discarded materials and collect waste cloth from the shops. We use it to make mobile covers and conference bags. It is like creating wealth out of waste,” she adds.

Each of the products is unique. Coconut shells are made into utility products and they are  polished by hand and then different colours are used to make them appear more attractive. From the coconut shells products like bowls and soap dishes are made. On the other hand, magazine sheets and brown paper go into making the paper pens.

Under the green protocol, this self-help group is using eco-friendly materials to make customised products for people. When a bulk order is placed, this group gives training to other women who are interested and those who wish to chip in by stitching or doing paper crafts. They also conduct summer camps for people interested in craft. So far, they have conducted classes in Gandhi Bhavan and Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum. Recently, they even conducted a session in Puthenthura in Kollam district.