Bhavnagar Is Set To Build Its Prettiest Park Out Of Urban Waste With Citizens Contributing Plastic Bottles. Meanwhile, Gujarat‘s Changemakers Are Engineering A Sustainable Future By Recycling Trash And Harnessing Agricultural Biomass For Eco-Friendly Solutions
Nimesh.Khakhariya@timesofindia.com
Plastic bottles stuffed with waste are building a greener future in Bhavnagar. The city’s civic body has launched a novel urban experiment: transforming discarded materials into a vibrant public garden in the western area.
The project, centred at Kailash Vatika near the Bor Talav area, introduces an innovative approach to eco-friendly construction using “eco bricks” — plastic bottles filled with compressed plastic waste. To encourage community participation, Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) offers residents Rs 10 for every three waste-filled bottles submitted at ward offices, a programme that has garnered good public response since its launch in late Dec.
“Our vision encompasses creating an entire garden infrastructure using plastic waste and municipal scrap,” explains Sujeet Kumar, municipal commissioner of BMC. “The project will feature benches, railings, tree surrounds and walkways built from eco bricks contributed by citizens and complemented by 11 artistic murals made from waste materials.”
The development spans approximately 1,000 sq m of previously unused land adjacent to an existing garden. Funded through the Swachh Bharat Mission, the project aims to collect 50,000 eco bricks, according to Falgun Shah, engineer of BMC’s Solid Waste Department. “This represents our second venture into waste-to-wonder transformation, following our 2019 initiative in the eastern part of the city,” Shah notes.
Local environmental activist and physician Dr. Tejas Doshi highlights the project’s impact: “Our city’s commercial establishments and paan shops generate significant plastic waste, particularly gutka pouches. This initiative prevents such waste from polluting our environment while creating something valuable.”
The project has established 13 collection centres, with volunteers actively supporting the collection of plastic bottles, including PET containers. The concept builds upon BMC’s previous success with the Akwada Lake Garden in 2019, which utilised similar eco-friendly construction methods. Although that park was later dismantled for the second phase of development, its materials have been repurposed for the current project, underscoring sustainability.
Beyond the structural elements, the park will showcase artistic installations made from old tyres and scrap material pulled from the city’s waste heaps. Through this initiative, Bhavnagar aims to set an example of how cities can combine waste management, community engagement and urban development to create public spaces that serve both environmental and recreational purposes.
SWEET REVENGE: HOW PLASTIC IS GETTING CANED
Paul.John@timesofindia.com
In a market flooded with plastic alternatives, this enterprise stands out — not only for its innovative product, but also for its founder’s unlikely journey spanning graphic design, specialised coffee beans and green innovation. Its groundbreaking process of extracting cellulose from sugarcane stalks and converting it into fully biodegradable bottles marks a shift in sustainable packaging.
“The cellulose is then used in producing bottles made of polylactic acid or PLA, a biodegradable thermoplastic,” says Nikhil Kumar, CEO of the Gandhinagar company.
Driven by a deep concern for the environment and a firm belief in ethical business practices, Kumar founded the company with the goal of replacing plastic bottles with a fully biodegradable alternative made from sugarcane. While PLA bottles exist globally, this venture’s dedication to 100% plant-based materials and ethical sourcing gives it a distinct edge. The firm manufactures a few lakh bottles every month.
Kumar asserts, “It is not just about the bottle. It is about the entire value system. We ensure that every component, from the bottle to the cap, is entirely plant-based and sourced responsibly. It took us eight months to design a cap.”
He adds, “This focus on purity is crucial for creating a packaging solution that genuinely returns to the earth without leaving harmful residues. Our unique selling proposition — ‘It’s not plastic’ — resonates strongly in a market where plastic pollution has become a major concern.”
Kumar’s innovation comes with its own set of challenges. “While a PLA bottle is suitable for storing water and certain other beverages, it is not suitable for all liquids. For instance, it is not ideal for carbonated drinks or highly acidic products. This necessitates creating alternative products or modifying the material’s properties,” says Kumar.
The company’s USP has found resonance at temple sites where plastic usage is high but environmental awareness is also growing.
Kumar is now forging partnerships with large pharmaceutical and adhesive companies that are keen on replacing plastic in their supply chains.
IN GUJARAT’S VILLAGES, PLASTIC TURNS FANTASTIC
Prashant.Rupera@timesofindia.com
From dustbins to garden benches, plastic waste is getting an innovative makeover in Vadodara, transforming rural lives across Central Gujarat. Behind this quiet revolution is the Kachare Se Azadi (KSA) Foundation, where waste segregation meets women’s empowerment.
Dr. Suneet Dabke’s non-profit has brought recycling technology to 22 villages since March 2021. What started as an environmental initiative has evolved into a comprehensive community development project.
“We are not only cleaning up, but also building livelihoods,” says Dabke, whose foundation has adopted eight villages in the past year, providing hands-on support for waste management.
The transformation begins in Dumad, on the outskirts of Vadodara. Here, the first-of-its-kind gram panchayat facility houses a conveyor belt and hydraulic baling machine, tackling what Dabke identifies as waste management’s biggest hurdle: dry waste segregation.
The sorted plastic, divided into five types, finds new purpose. While one variety becomes bags, others transform into sturdy benches that either return to village squares or generate funds through sales. “Our most promising product is a recycled plastic chair, weighing 30kg and built to withstand termites and weather extremes,” Dabke says.
But perhaps the most significant impact comes from the foundation’s flex waste initiative. This troublesome material, a disposal challenge, now emerges as car mats and dustbins, with women earning income through stitching the upcycled products. The foundation also produces flower and plastic collection bags from the same material.
The numbers tell their own story: in just one year, KSA has collected 60 metric tonnes of plastic. But beyond statistics, it’s the sight of women earning from waste and villages using recycled furniture that marks this initiative’s true success.
CONQUERING EVEREST OF WASTE WOES
Plastic recycling machines from G’nagar, costing Rs 4L each, have reached Mt Everest base camp and 22 countries
Paul.John@timesofindia.com
What began as a mechanical engineering student’s observation at Gandhinagar’s LDRP Institute has evolved into a venture that has set up recycling units in Gujarat’s villages, Mount Everest base camp and 22 countries. At 27, founder Pranav Desai has transformed a campus idea into a global solution for plastic waste.
He identified a critical gap during his studies: rural areas and smaller cities lacked efficient recycling solutions for single-use and multi-layered plastics.
“The company’s innovation lies in its ability to handle multi-layered plastic (MLP) – packaging that combines plastic with aluminium or tin, a particularly challenging material that typically ends up in agriculture fields or water bodies like ponds,” he explains. Working alongside co-founder Deep Bhuva, Desai developed compact recycling units that revolutionised the economics of waste management.
These machines, which cost a few lakhs, have slashed operational costs from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The technology is impressive: each unit can process 50 kilograms of plastic an hour, incorporating specialised toxic gas stabilisers to neutralise harmful fumes like phthalates and dioxins.
The recycled material finds new life as park benches, buckets, household goods, partitions, tables and chairs. The impact of the initiative is perhaps best illustrated in Ambapur village near Gandhinagar. Here, the company pioneered a community recycling programme with an innovative approach — offering school supplies made from recycled materials as incentives. “We wanted to demonstrate that their participation had tangible value,” Desai explains.
This success led to a partnership with the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation in 2022, resulting in 15 tonnes of plastic being transformed into park furniture. But the company’s reach extends far beyond Gujarat: it has exported 170 machines to 22 countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. One unit even operates at Mount Everest base camp, tackling waste management in one of the world’s most challenging locations.
Despite this global presence, Desai maintains a grounded perspective: “Our goal is not to sell more machines. We hope their use eventually becomes unnecessary as people embrace more responsible consumption habits.”
PEEL THE POTENTIAL: RESEARCHERS STRIKE GOLD WITH BANANA WASTE
Vishal.Patadiya@timesofindia.com
For years, banana farmers faced a costly predicament: disposing of pseudostem waste that cost Rs 15,000 per hectare and generated up to 80 tonnes of biomass. Today, that same “waste” is spawning a global revolution, thanks to scientists at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU).
Their ‘Banana Pseudostem Processing Project’ has transformed every part of the pseudostem into valuable products, catching the attention of 44 companies and institutes across Asia, North America and Africa.
“When we started this project around 2010, we faced many challenges because farmers treated pseudostems as waste, discarding them randomly or disposing of them haphazardly. They only liked the fruits,” recalls Dr. Chirag Desai, associate research scientist.
The transformation has been extraordinary. “We started extracting everything possible out of this pseudostem. We made currency grade and high-quality paper and textile grade cloth from the fibres extracted with Raspador machine,” explains Desai. “These papers now serve in files and govt documents. The textile provides an alternative to cotton and silk. The scutcher yields vermicompost and fish-food.” The crown jewel of the project is a fertiliser made from pseudostem sap.
NAU has successfully transferred technology for five different pseudostem products to companies across India — from New Delhi to Meghalaya. International buyers include companies from the USA and Botswana, paying $30,000 and $15,000 respectively. A Mumbai firm has invested Rs 10 lakh in the technology.
Parts used and products made
Fibre: Textile, high-grade paper, handmade paper, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), artefacts, hard-board
Scutcher: Compost fertiliser, vermicompost, fish-food
Sap: Novel Organic Liquid Nutrient, mordant
Central core: Candies, jam, juice, pickles, edible items
Nimesh.Khakhariya@timesofindia.com
Plastic bottles stuffed with waste are building a greener future in Bhavnagar. The city’s civic body has launched a novel urban experiment: transforming discarded materials into a vibrant public garden in the western area.
The project, centred at Kailash Vatika near the Bor Talav area, introduces an innovative approach to eco-friendly construction using “eco bricks” — plastic bottles filled with compressed plastic waste. To encourage community participation, Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) offers residents Rs 10 for every three waste-filled bottles submitted at ward offices, a programme that has garnered good public response since its launch in late Dec.
“Our vision encompasses creating an entire garden infrastructure using plastic waste and municipal scrap,” explains Sujeet Kumar, municipal commissioner of BMC. “The project will feature benches, railings, tree surrounds and walkways built from eco bricks contributed by citizens and complemented by 11 artistic murals made from waste materials.”
The development spans approximately 1,000 sq m of previously unused land adjacent to an existing garden. Funded through the Swachh Bharat Mission, the project aims to collect 50,000 eco bricks, according to Falgun Shah, engineer of BMC’s Solid Waste Department. “This represents our second venture into waste-to-wonder transformation, following our 2019 initiative in the eastern part of the city,” Shah notes.
Local environmental activist and physician Dr. Tejas Doshi highlights the project’s impact: “Our city’s commercial establishments and paan shops generate significant plastic waste, particularly gutka pouches. This initiative prevents such waste from polluting our environment while creating something valuable.”
The project has established 13 collection centres, with volunteers actively supporting the collection of plastic bottles, including PET containers. The concept builds upon BMC’s previous success with the Akwada Lake Garden in 2019, which utilised similar eco-friendly construction methods. Although that park was later dismantled for the second phase of development, its materials have been repurposed for the current project, underscoring sustainability.
Beyond the structural elements, the park will showcase artistic installations made from old tyres and scrap material pulled from the city’s waste heaps. Through this initiative, Bhavnagar aims to set an example of how cities can combine waste management, community engagement and urban development to create public spaces that serve both environmental and recreational purposes.
SWEET REVENGE: HOW PLASTIC IS GETTING CANED
Paul.John@timesofindia.com
In a market flooded with plastic alternatives, this enterprise stands out — not only for its innovative product, but also for its founder’s unlikely journey spanning graphic design, specialised coffee beans and green innovation. Its groundbreaking process of extracting cellulose from sugarcane stalks and converting it into fully biodegradable bottles marks a shift in sustainable packaging.
“The cellulose is then used in producing bottles made of polylactic acid or PLA, a biodegradable thermoplastic,” says Nikhil Kumar, CEO of the Gandhinagar company.
Driven by a deep concern for the environment and a firm belief in ethical business practices, Kumar founded the company with the goal of replacing plastic bottles with a fully biodegradable alternative made from sugarcane. While PLA bottles exist globally, this venture’s dedication to 100% plant-based materials and ethical sourcing gives it a distinct edge. The firm manufactures a few lakh bottles every month.
Kumar asserts, “It is not just about the bottle. It is about the entire value system. We ensure that every component, from the bottle to the cap, is entirely plant-based and sourced responsibly. It took us eight months to design a cap.”
He adds, “This focus on purity is crucial for creating a packaging solution that genuinely returns to the earth without leaving harmful residues. Our unique selling proposition — ‘It’s not plastic’ — resonates strongly in a market where plastic pollution has become a major concern.”
Kumar’s innovation comes with its own set of challenges. “While a PLA bottle is suitable for storing water and certain other beverages, it is not suitable for all liquids. For instance, it is not ideal for carbonated drinks or highly acidic products. This necessitates creating alternative products or modifying the material’s properties,” says Kumar.
The company’s USP has found resonance at temple sites where plastic usage is high but environmental awareness is also growing.
Kumar is now forging partnerships with large pharmaceutical and adhesive companies that are keen on replacing plastic in their supply chains.
IN GUJARAT’S VILLAGES, PLASTIC TURNS FANTASTIC
Prashant.Rupera@timesofindia.com
From dustbins to garden benches, plastic waste is getting an innovative makeover in Vadodara, transforming rural lives across Central Gujarat. Behind this quiet revolution is the Kachare Se Azadi (KSA) Foundation, where waste segregation meets women’s empowerment.
Dr. Suneet Dabke’s non-profit has brought recycling technology to 22 villages since March 2021. What started as an environmental initiative has evolved into a comprehensive community development project.
“We are not only cleaning up, but also building livelihoods,” says Dabke, whose foundation has adopted eight villages in the past year, providing hands-on support for waste management.
The transformation begins in Dumad, on the outskirts of Vadodara. Here, the first-of-its-kind gram panchayat facility houses a conveyor belt and hydraulic baling machine, tackling what Dabke identifies as waste management’s biggest hurdle: dry waste segregation.
The sorted plastic, divided into five types, finds new purpose. While one variety becomes bags, others transform into sturdy benches that either return to village squares or generate funds through sales. “Our most promising product is a recycled plastic chair, weighing 30kg and built to withstand termites and weather extremes,” Dabke says.
But perhaps the most significant impact comes from the foundation’s flex waste initiative. This troublesome material, a disposal challenge, now emerges as car mats and dustbins, with women earning income through stitching the upcycled products. The foundation also produces flower and plastic collection bags from the same material.
The numbers tell their own story: in just one year, KSA has collected 60 metric tonnes of plastic. But beyond statistics, it’s the sight of women earning from waste and villages using recycled furniture that marks this initiative’s true success.
CONQUERING EVEREST OF WASTE WOES
Plastic recycling machines from G’nagar, costing Rs 4L each, have reached Mt Everest base camp and 22 countries
Paul.John@timesofindia.com
What began as a mechanical engineering student’s observation at Gandhinagar’s LDRP Institute has evolved into a venture that has set up recycling units in Gujarat’s villages, Mount Everest base camp and 22 countries. At 27, founder Pranav Desai has transformed a campus idea into a global solution for plastic waste.
He identified a critical gap during his studies: rural areas and smaller cities lacked efficient recycling solutions for single-use and multi-layered plastics.
“The company’s innovation lies in its ability to handle multi-layered plastic (MLP) – packaging that combines plastic with aluminium or tin, a particularly challenging material that typically ends up in agriculture fields or water bodies like ponds,” he explains. Working alongside co-founder Deep Bhuva, Desai developed compact recycling units that revolutionised the economics of waste management.
These machines, which cost a few lakhs, have slashed operational costs from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The technology is impressive: each unit can process 50 kilograms of plastic an hour, incorporating specialised toxic gas stabilisers to neutralise harmful fumes like phthalates and dioxins.
The recycled material finds new life as park benches, buckets, household goods, partitions, tables and chairs. The impact of the initiative is perhaps best illustrated in Ambapur village near Gandhinagar. Here, the company pioneered a community recycling programme with an innovative approach — offering school supplies made from recycled materials as incentives. “We wanted to demonstrate that their participation had tangible value,” Desai explains.
This success led to a partnership with the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation in 2022, resulting in 15 tonnes of plastic being transformed into park furniture. But the company’s reach extends far beyond Gujarat: it has exported 170 machines to 22 countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. One unit even operates at Mount Everest base camp, tackling waste management in one of the world’s most challenging locations.
Despite this global presence, Desai maintains a grounded perspective: “Our goal is not to sell more machines. We hope their use eventually becomes unnecessary as people embrace more responsible consumption habits.”
PEEL THE POTENTIAL: RESEARCHERS STRIKE GOLD WITH BANANA WASTE
Vishal.Patadiya@timesofindia.com
For years, banana farmers faced a costly predicament: disposing of pseudostem waste that cost Rs 15,000 per hectare and generated up to 80 tonnes of biomass. Today, that same “waste” is spawning a global revolution, thanks to scientists at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU).
Their ‘Banana Pseudostem Processing Project’ has transformed every part of the pseudostem into valuable products, catching the attention of 44 companies and institutes across Asia, North America and Africa.
“When we started this project around 2010, we faced many challenges because farmers treated pseudostems as waste, discarding them randomly or disposing of them haphazardly. They only liked the fruits,” recalls Dr. Chirag Desai, associate research scientist.
The transformation has been extraordinary. “We started extracting everything possible out of this pseudostem. We made currency grade and high-quality paper and textile grade cloth from the fibres extracted with Raspador machine,” explains Desai. “These papers now serve in files and govt documents. The textile provides an alternative to cotton and silk. The scutcher yields vermicompost and fish-food.” The crown jewel of the project is a fertiliser made from pseudostem sap.
NAU has successfully transferred technology for five different pseudostem products to companies across India — from New Delhi to Meghalaya. International buyers include companies from the USA and Botswana, paying $30,000 and $15,000 respectively. A Mumbai firm has invested Rs 10 lakh in the technology.
Parts used and products made
Fibre: Textile, high-grade paper, handmade paper, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), artefacts, hard-board
Scutcher: Compost fertiliser, vermicompost, fish-food
Sap: Novel Organic Liquid Nutrient, mordant
Central core: Candies, jam, juice, pickles, edible items