GANGTOK, : Households and businesses in the Darjeeling district
now have a structured way to recycle their used beverage cartons, thanks to a
collaborative initiative between Tieedi Permaculture Foundation and Tetra Pak.
This
partnership not only ensures responsible recycling but also empowers informal
waste workers by providing them with formal recognition, training, and
healthcare support, a press release informs.
Tieedi,
an environmental organization committed to zero-waste solutions, has partnered
with Tetra Pak, a global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, to
establish a decentralized collection and recycling system for used beverage
cartons.
This
initiative will facilitate the recovery of used cartons through an on-ground
network of waste workers and community participation. All collected cartons
will then be sent to the nearest recycler, Khatema Fibres, in Uttarakhand for
recycling.
As
part of the initiative, Tieedi is working closely with waste workers to
formalize their role in the waste management ecosystem, the release mentions.
Waste
pickers will be trained in efficient collection and segregation of aseptic
beverage cartons. Waste pickers will also be provided with other livelihood
support like health cards for medical support and getting connected to a
structured recycling network for more income.
Additionally,
youth from Sonada Degree College will play a crucial role in collecting data on
waste pickers and helping bridge the gap between academic research and
real-world waste management challenges
Aseptic
beverage cartons, made primarily of 70% paperboard, are recyclable and can be
processed into valuable materials like paper products like secondary packaging,
e-commerce packaging, stationery, roofing sheets from poly-aluminium panels,
and composite sheets used by, automobile
and logistics industry, and for making furniture and more.
Utsow
Pradhan, founder at Tieedi, added, “We are very excited about this
collaboration with TetraPak India as it fosters the beginning of a synergy
between bulk producers of material goods and local grassroots organisation to
overcome the challenges of waste mismanagement in our hills. It is also a
landmark occasion where for the first time ever the ignored waste pickers
(kabaadiwalas) have been given a platform where their work is recognised and
they received the dignity that they deserve in our society.”
“Even
though the kabaadiwalas work in the informal sector, they are one of the most
impactful climate action activists in India whose work ensures that a huge
chunk of the waste that is discarded irresponsibly by consumers still land up
in the recycling hubs. We thank Tetra Pak India for their support for this
project,” he said.
Juhi
Gupta, Sustainability Director, Tetra Pak South Asia said, “This partnership is
a great example of like-minded partners coming together to take a challenge and
convert that into an opportunity to do the right thing. We are very happy to
partner with Tieedi on this initiative and believe that together we are setting
a wonderful precedent in this region for decentralized, community-driven waste
management solutions that benefit both the environment and the people working
to keep it clean.”
