ONE MAN’S TRASH COULD BE ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE

Design for ChangeChang Rigphel Lower Secondary School

Olakha, Thimphu

IntroductionThe problem of plastic litter is only growing. Plastic is the fastest-growing component of the waste stream, and plastic pollution like single-use bags are among the most commonly found items during campus and river cleanups. Because plastic essentially never biodegrades, once littered plastic becomes a permanent environmental problem.

Plastic bags are a true menace to our ecosystems

The students of Chang Rigphel Lower Secondary School, Olakha, Thimphu feeling the ever increasing problem of plastic trash in the community, conceived an idea of collecting them and developing into usable products thereby helping to clean the environment and recycling the trash.

The motto of the collective action “One man’s trash could be another man’s treasure”

Landfill in Memeylakha

Plastic litter in Olakha

Students participating in the clean up campaign and collected plastics from the settlement around the school and the river side.

Students, parents and teachers organized clean up campaign and collect plastics from the settlement around the school and the river side.

Students clean the plastics wrappers, dry and make it ready for cutting.

Boys cut the clean and dry plastic wrappers into thin strips.

Girls cut the clean and dry plastic wrappers into thin strips

Students collect the plastic strips ready to be woven

Students learn to weave the cut stripes of plastic wrappers into colorful mat

Students learn and help each other to weave plastic mats

The final product…plastic trash transformed into a beautiful round sitting mat and backrest

Together we can change

Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse……plastic trash

BRAVO……we succeeded in reusing the trash and cleaning our surrounding