A city-based NGO has developed a technology to convert discarded plastic into alternative plywood.
Story so far: Mondelez India has awarded a grant to Hasiru Dala for its pilot project ‘Post Plastic Board’. The NGO will work with waste workers to recycle Polystyrene and other plastics into sustainable furniture boards, a plywood alternative.
- The pilot project will use technology sourced from TrashCon, to convert up to 600 tonnes of MLP waste per annum. More than 12-15 tonnes of waste goes into making 300 boards and 110 benches. They are sent to various schools in Sarakki, MS Palya, Peenya and Jolly Mohalla.
- Since the boards can be used to make lightweight sheds and home furniture, the NGO plans to commercialise them. The boards have recently piqued the interest of house parts makers in Chennai.
Advantages: The board’s water resistance is one of its many advantages. The plastic used to make these is the kind of waste that workers do not get paid for upon collecting. The NGO pays the waste workers aiding the project based on the amount of plastic waste they bring in.
- Eventually, the project aims to equip the waste workers with the knowledge to run this program and benefit from an additional source of income.