A TRASH 2 TREASURE DRIVE!

There is a saying: Used papers have another chapter left in them. From paper recycling to arts and crafts, there are loads of uses for your old paper. However, this is possible only if we donate it for recycling, saving trees, and giving these materials a second chance to be part of a new narrative.

To nudge this narrative, the Rotaract Club at Apeejay Stya University (ASU), Gurgugram came up with the concept of  ‘turning your trash into someone else’s treasure’. In a collaborative initiative, the ASU students donated waste paper — from scrap paper to books to not-fit-to-use papers and old newspapers.

This concerted effort aimed to declutter with a purpose  — to recycle the paper into brand-new notebooks that will find their way into the hands of NGOs, creating opportunities for underprivileged children to pursue their studies. The waste paper will also be used to make thick cardboard sheets which will then be used for Braille and donated to the visually impaired. The aim is to support Braille literacy practices.

To mobile this project the entire Rotaract Club rallied together including Rtr Kalash Dang, Director of Community Services (Chairperson), Rtr Chandrajeet Dhara (Co-chairperson), Rtr Keshvi Priya Sinha (Media Head), Rtr Kajal Shukla (Public Relation Officer), Rtr Vibhuti Verma (President), faculty at ASU and other students.

Different collection boxes were kept in the corners of the university where individuals could donate. At present, the project is in the first phase — the collection. Soon, the next phase– recycling — will begin. 

The event kick-started on December 27, 2023, and is an ongoing process till enough waste paper is collected. Students are requested to click their photographs while donating and upload them on the Google Drive link. They are also expected to sign and fill up the attendance sheet with all the necessary information required. 

The motive behind this campaign was a commitment to innovative thinking and creating something meaningful out of waste — turning what some consider waste into a valuable resource for society. This initiative is a purely non-monetary approach, which aims to make a positive impact on both society and the environment.

As Nelson Mandela once rightly said: You can start changing the world for the better daily — no matter how small the action.