A lot of people have argued that recycling paper might soon become obsolete, what with the world going digital and all. But looking at the current state of affairs, that argument seems far from plausible. From our writing table to notebooks, posters to cardboard boxes to magazines, paper has become an indispensable part of our everyday lives.
Paper is made from trees, and every single part of the tree is either chopped up to make products or burned to create energy. If we could just recycle one morning newspaper every day, we could save 41,000 trees from being cut down and greatly reduce our carbon footprint. Recycling old paper products uses 60% less energy than manufacturing it from new materials.
To address the issue of paper wastage, Ritika Srivastava and Rishika Jaiswal from Earth5R Varanasi conducted Recycling and Environmental Awareness workshop at Varanasi. The program was organized in a slum near Bhelupur, Varanasi. The program focused on recycling paper, environmental health awareness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.
The team provided the residents with livelihood skills by training them in making paper art. They educated the women and the children on environmental health issues that are on a rise on account of people’s unawareness and ignorance.
Through this program, the slum residents discovered an innovative way to reduce the waste piling up in their community. Inspired by the session, both children and parents actively participated in summoning neighbors from nearby areas to join the paper recycling workshop. This collective involvement not only spread awareness but also built a sense of community around sustainability.
Team Earth5R further encouraged residents to embrace entrepreneurship by providing the necessary training and an organized supply chain network to market their recycled products. The initiative aims to empower individuals, turning waste into opportunities and creating a sustainable livelihood model. This approach fosters economic growth while addressing pressing environmental challenges, truly embodying Earth5R’s mission of merging sustainability with social impact.
– Reported by Rishika Jaiswal. Edited by Shaivya Sahare.
