ecchelmet
Stop plastic or we will stop life on our planet!
The WET team of 477 MLD WTP Chandrawal Package 1 takes up the fight
Plastic originally meant ‘pliable and easily shaped’ and has only recently become a name for a category of materials called polymers that means ‘of many parts’, and they abound in nature. Cellulose, the material that makes up the cell walls of plants, is a common natural polymer. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt. Later in 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no molecules found in nature. While plastic has several advantages, its irresponsible use by humans has become a cause for worry with plastic debris in the oceans first observed in the 1960s. That is because plastic lasts forever in the environment.
Presently, we create nearly 300 million tonnes of plastic waste annually that is threatening to contaminate and choke all forms of life. Sadly, much of the cheap, disposable plastic we encounter is discarded after just one use. This year’s theme for the World Environment Day observed on 5th June – #BeatPlasticPollution – is yet another attempt to refocus on this growing menace. Against this backdrop, it is encouraging that WET IC’s 477 MLD Water Treatment Plant, Chandrawal Package 1, has taken up cudgels to fight plastic pollution.
“We, at Chandrawal WTP, have made some conscious efforts to reduce the use of plastic at our workplace as well as the guest houses,” observes Project Manager, Kanishka Binod Gupta. “Some of our initiatives include using plastic bottles to make eco-bricks and cleaning of Naini Lake on World Environment Day 2023. Although these may seem miniscule when compared to the gigantic threat plastic pollution poses to the world, our objective is to create awareness among our staff, workmen, stakeholders, and other people to make a difference for the betterment of our environment.”
We, at Chandrawal WTP, have made some conscious efforts to reduce the use of plastic at our workplace as well as the guest houses. Our objective is to create awareness to make a difference for the betterment of our environment.
Kanishka Binod Gupta
Project Manager
Making eco-bricks out of plastic waste
An eco-brick is a plastic bottle packed with used plastic to a set density that serves as a reusable building block. Ecobricks can be used to produce various items, including furniture, garden walls, and other structures. The ingredients required to make an eco-brick are …
- Plastic non-biodegradable/nonrecyclable waste (fully dry & clean)
- An empty PET bottle
- A pair of scissors to cut the waste to the specific size
- A stick to compact the waste inside the bottle
To make an eco-brick, simply …
- Collect clean, dry, and cut plastic
- Choose a PET bottle
- Find a sturdy stick
- Start with soft plastic
- Pack it tight
- Weigh and log your eco-brick
“To start with, we successfully made three eco-bricks stuffing 155 gm of plastic waste inside one bottle,” shares Planning Manager, Misbah Uddin, with a half-smile. “Then, warming up to our task, we have thus far made 150 eco-bricks, totally using 22,500 gm of plastic waste in the bottles.”
To start with, we successfully made three eco-bricks stuffing 155 gm of plastic waste inside one bottle. Then, warming up to our task, we have thus far made 150 eco-bricks, totally using 22,500 gm of plastic waste in the bottles.
Misbah Uddin
Planning Manager
Compost pits
These are used to make manure and fertile compounds by dumping decaying biodegradable items that contain numerous vital elements for plant growth and are hence frequently used as fertilizers. Through the magic of composting, organic matter like food waste or leaves can be converted into fertilizers to be used in the yard or for gardening. Pit composting, also sometimes called trench composting, is less unsightly than a compost pile and less work than building a homemade compost bin. Just grab a shovel and dig a hole, and one is ready to add compost material to it. Making a compost pit is easy:
-
- Dig a hole
- Finely chop the compost materials
- Add the organic materials to the compost pit
- Maintain a filled pit
- Cover the hole with a board if one plans to add more to it
- Cover the compost with soil when full
- Water the compost area to improve decomposition
Follow a layer-wise procedure: one layer of waste, then dry leaves, followed by another layer of ready compost or soil, and then add water to fulfil the moisture content. Once the compost pit is ready, wait for a minimum of 30 days for results.
Cleaning water bodies
On June 5th, 2023, a group of L&Teers from the Chandrawal project organized a drive to clean the Naini Lake in Delhi’s Model Town by removing floating plastic objects and organic & inorganic substances. “Riding in paddle boats, we meticulously and assiduously cleaned every corner of the lake,” says EHS In-charge, Ameer Faisal, with a sense of purpose, “and in the process, we spread awareness about the need to rejuvenate our water bodies.”
Riding in paddle boats, we meticulously and assiduously cleaned every corner of the lake and in the process, we spread awareness about the need to rejuvenate our water bodies.
Ameer Faisal
EHS In-charge
At an event held as part of these activities, a cotton bag each was distributed to the people to remind them of the Beat Plastic campaign and the sub-themes to ditch disposables and use reusables. The team’s effort to enrich the environment won the appreciation of the officials of Delhi Tourism too.
Let’s keep fighting. Our very survival depends on it.