STORY PREVIEW

2024

The Waste We Ignore: What Happens to It?

Nanakamatta Public School

Uttrakhand, Nanakamatta, Udham Singh Nagar

MENTOR

Vansh Mittal

Step 1 FEEL

List the challenges or problems in your surroundings (school,neighbourhood etc.) that bothered you.

1. Waste management: Our school and the entire town of Nanakmatta generate a significant amount of waste that is not disposed of properly, affecting our environment.Our survey found that our school produced 15 kg of plastic waste, 6 g of aluminum foil, and 1 kg of organic waste in just one week. 2. Another pressing issue is the lack of public awareness about waste management and sustainability. People often dispose of waste improperly, which directly affects our health. 3. Menstrual waste management: Schools and homes generate a lot of menstrual waste, which is not disposed of properly. In pursuit of food, animals like cows and dogs are feeding on pads from dumps, which is extremely harmful.Research by Times of India also mentioned that 'While videos and photographs of animals in the wild feeding on junk are only now surfacing, for years, animals in cities across the state have been feeding on plastic. Veterinarians have removed kilograms of plastic from the stomachs and intestines of cattle, deer, dogs, cats, and birds’.

State the problem chosen to work and why.

We chose this because schools generate a lot of waste, most of which is non-biodegradable. This includes plastic and other similar materials. Sanitary pads used by girls also do not decompose and are harmful for our environment. There was a lack of proper information and sustainable alternatives about them. Solving this problem benefits the environment and increases awareness and responsibility in the community.

Who were the people affected by the problem? What were their primary concerns?

1. Learners are concerned about the ignorance of sustainability and waste management, so their interest is primarily to learn about sustainable methods and create a positive environment. 2.Teachers are interested in the amount of wastage in the school and how to handle it better. 3. Local community: People of Nanakmatta are directly influenced by the waste management problem in town. They need to focus on making this town waste-free, but they don't have enough knowledge of how to achieve this goal. 4. Girls and women are demanding access to sustainable menstrual hygiene products. They are actively seeking safe, sustainable, and healthy alternatives to the current options.

Step 2 IMAGINE

List ALL the different solutions you came up with.

The 30 Days Plastic Free challenge involved uploading short videos via social media for 30 days, with a new task each day.We previously administered plastic food challenges to the students, which proved very helpful. We also led sessions with female students from ninth to twelfth grade to raise awareness about menstrual waste management and alternative methods, including the use of menstrual cups. We also engaged in waste segregation with 7th and 8th graders, teaching them to separate school waste into categories such as plastic, paper, and other materials. Composting:We compost the paper waste and organic waste from the children's homes. We promote sustainable menstruation products.Students and staff are informed about more eco-friendly options such as menstrual cups and cloth pads. We replaced plastic pens with an organic pen and pencil. Upcycling school waste: We reuse school waste paper, plastic, and other materials, such as for arts and crafts.

Which solution from those listed above did you choose to implement and why?

We know that these initiatives are important to create a difference, so we didn't just take one decision — we took all of them.It was very important to take every initiative, so we started an eco-club with special teams for sustainable menstruation, waste management, composting, and more. This eco-club has organized numerous activities, including the 30 Days Plastic Free challenge, community visits, waste segregation, upcycling school waste, managing menstrual waste, and more.By taking a holistic approach, we are driving real change, inspiring our community, and fostering a culture of sustainability.

Step 3DO

Describe very briefly the process of implementing your solution(s).

Here's how we're implementing our solution: First, we launched a 30-day waste challenge. In this challenge, we make a video providing content about waste. We've also created Eco bricks, which store waste in bottles and can be used as bricks. We've initiated a measurement project, demonstrating how sanitary pads harm the environment and alternatives we can use instead. We have taken several decisive actions to address the environmental issues at hand. First, we have initiated a 30-day waste challenge, during which we produce videos that provide content about waste. Second, we have created Eco Bricks, which allow us to store a certain amount of waste in a bottle and use it as a brick. Third, we have started a measurement project that educates the community on the harm caused by sanitary pads and how to use alternatives. Fourth, we have started using products like paper, charts, and water bottles to create posters and flowerpots, respectively. Fifth, we have started sending waste for recycling. Sixth, we have started educating the community to prevent waste as much as possible, which will also yield results. Finally, some students and community members have committed to preventing waste from their lives as much as possible. At school, we've announced our plan to reduce packed food and observe our plants and biodiversity. This will help students, seniors, and teachers understand how waste impacts this. We have made it clear that overconsumption of waste is not an option, and we have adopted a lifestyle that reflects this commitment.

What was the result or impact of your project?

Our project on Waste at Wipro Earthian in 2023 was a resounding success. We achieved a 40% reduction in school waste by composting organic materials like paper. In 2024, we spearheaded a campaign to reduce menstrual waste, raising awareness for girls and promoting the use of sustainable products like menstrual cups. This initiative not only reduced non-biodegradable waste but also fostered a culture of cleanliness that is crucial for health.Our unwavering commitment and innovative approach have been recognized with two consecutive awards in 2023 and 2024, a testament to our organization's dedication to environmental stewardship. Our work inspired a passion within us, leading us to call on everyone in the project to take responsibility for the environment and take innovative steps. This inspiring initiative has a positive impact on all of us.

How many people were impacted by your solution(s)?

200

What did the impacted people have to say about your project? Provide 2 quotes or testimonials:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nIH6wzT66F3UdmDt8atCM1ZTAZ5sfEak/view?usp=drivesdk ( Amandeep Singh) Or The NPS eco club is a student-led initiative to bring learners closer to their environment and find sustainable lifestyle alternatives. The NPS Eco Club members have shared a lot of valuable information with us about waste management. We have learned how to utilize waste in various ways, and create creative and useful things from it. They raised a lot of awareness through videos and sessions, especially about menstrual cups. As a result, I have noticed a significant change in my class, where most of the girls are now using menstrual cups. The Eco Club has redefined waste for all of us and create a new definition of waste. The team is working with great dedication and is truly committed to making a real change. However, there are still areas that require further development, such as exploring more ways to reuse other forms of waste. The club members encourage us to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our daily lives, which has inspired many students to adopt more sustainable practices. Their passion for the environment has truly made a difference, and I am hopeful that with time, their efforts will lead to even more impactful changes in our school and community. - Shivam Chand(12th)

What challenges did you encounter while implementing your project, and how did you overcome them?

Lack of understanding of the importance of trash segregation was the biggest problem we ran into. Recycling is made more challenging by the large amount of mixed rubbish in our community.The issue was handled through seminars, campaign planning, and educating peers and the community about recycling, reusing, and reducing. The lack of familiarity made it challenging to launch sustainable menstrual products.We overcame this by orchestrating discussions and demonstrations, and between 90 and 100 women began utilizing environmentally responsible alternatives. Even if it will take time to shift people's attitudes, our persistence and educational initiatives will continue to promote eco-friendly conduct.

How long did it take to implement your solution?

0-7 Days

Which global goals does your story align with?

Quality Education

Please explain briefly why do you think so?

Our story aligns firmly with Quality Education, as it focuses on educating students, teachers and the community on waste management and sustainability.Through initiatives like the Eco Club, 30-day challenges and awareness sessions, we have empowered learners with practical knowledge.By involving everyone—students, staff and locals—we are fostering teamwork, responsibility and critical thinking. This project is about so much more than managing waste; it's about building habits, inspiring change, and ensuring future generations inherit these practices.We've created platforms for sharing ideas, encouraging sustainable choices, and promoting alternatives like menstrual cups.Our efforts go beyond awareness; they provide tools for action, making learning impactful and life-changing. Our goal is to create informed, responsible individuals who contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. We know that education is key to achieving sustainability and long-lasting change.

Step 4 SHARE

How did you share your project with your school and community? Who did you share your project with? What was their response?

We presented our project at school assembly, using a play to demonstrate topics related to waste management, the harmful effects of plastic and its impacts.The response from the students was extremely positive.We introduced the project during our morning assembly, and many students decided to join us in our efforts. We actively involve students and staff in Eco Club activities, and whenever there is a programme in our school, we set up an Eco Club stall. In these stalls, we display bird-watching books, informational booklets, menstrual cups, menstrual cloth products, organic pencils, and eco-bags.Additionally, we create handicrafts from reduced waste, which we always showcase in our stalls. We promoted the 30-day plastic-free challenge using charts, posters and art exhibitions, and received very positive responses and feedback.During Diwali, when crackers are traditionally burst, causing significant environmental harm and disturbing the habitats of animals and birds, our school issued a challenge to avoid crackers entirely. Instead, everyone participated by visiting primary schools to distribute eco-friendly pencils and pens, which were well-received. We shared our project with students and teachers in the school and also with our friends to inspire them to adopt sustainable practices.Additionally, we analysed the waste generated during the Diwali fair and discussed these issues with the chairman of Nanakmatta. We also explored how much waste comes from different households in the Nagar Palika and visited the dump yard in Nanakmatta to observe how waste is reduced, reused, and compressed. This gave us valuable insights, which we discussed with the concerned stakeholders to improve waste management practices.

Approximately how many people did you share your story of change with?

More than 100

Briefly share your plan to sustain the impact of your project?

Our plan is simple and effective. We will share all the information we have gathered about waste management with our juniors and seniors. This will help them understand it better and carry it forward in future. The knowledge we have gained will never be lost and will stay with them. They will also be able to pass it on to others. We will upload videos related to waste, as we are doing in our 30-day plastic-free challenge. This ensures that the information will stay for a longer time, even if it isn't addressed by people now. There's always a chance that someone might come across it later and learn about the content that we have provided, and they might also apply it to their own lifestyle. By promoting awareness of waste and the benefits of a waste-free environment, we will ensure that people choose sustainable goods that do not harm the environment. This foundation we are building will make the future green and plastic-free.We will encourage and teach knowledge to juniors and seniors, and they will learn how to work as a team. Other age groups will also learn how teamwork can actually change something.

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