Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has set up a glass crushing unit that will manage the recycling of glass bottles used in laboratories. Glass waste can be pulverized into sand-like shreds which can be used for construction works, said a press release here.
The unit, which was designed by Anoop Agustin of the maintenance and estate cell of CMFRI, is part of the Swachh Bharat programme of the institute. One-litre glass bottle can be crushed into granules within two seconds at the unit which requires six units of electricity per hour of operation. Besides laboratory glass bottles, all glass waste materials, including tube lights, can be recycled in the same way using the facility.
CMFRI Director A. Gopalakrishnan, who inaugurated the unit, said that laboratories can be kept environment-friendly through proper recycling of glass bottles. As part of its Swachhata mission, CMFRI organised cleaning drives besides conducting various awareness programmes. The awareness programmes included a human chain, painting exhibition and a bike rally.