Page 27 - Plastics News May 2019

FEATURES

were working as daily-wage labourers. Thus, in an effort from each country. The company also won the United
to help them, the school has taken up the responsibility Nation's SEED Awards for Entrepreneurs in Sustainable
to take care of these children until they get a proper job. Development and were named as one of the top 10 eco-
In the primary level, the school follows the Cambridge
English and Mathematics guidelines and in the secondary
level, the students start their training for National
Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) board examinations,
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Mukhtar mentioned that they has also been invited to
the United Nations in 2017 to present and share with the
world their unique method of teaching. The duo is also
working with an NGO, “Education Alliance”, in Delhi which
took them into a government school there and helped the
teachers and staff of the school to adopt the couple’s
system of schooling and teaching.
Recycle Impact
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Back home, Recycle impact the Mumbai-based startup has now developed an Android app for local recyclers,
Founded by Neeraj Shetty and Shankrith Narayan, ensures through which a customer can recycle scrap material (like
that waste is properly recycled, and the funds generated paper, cartons, plastic, metals, glass and electronics),
by recycling scrap are utilised for a meaningful social get to know the exact amount generated by recycling the
impact cause. The startup, which has been bootstrapped scrap, and donate the same to crowdfund a social cause
since its inception in 2015, is aiming at organising the of their choice. Also linked with the mobile app is a live
sector and empowering the local recyclers in the process. crowdfunding link on the website, which ensures that the
Explains Neeraj, “Our revenue model works like any entire process is very transparent.
other online crowdfunding companies - out-take fee. But
what differentiates us is that we don’t ask for cash. And Recycled plastics has immense potential and despite
secondly, we don’t take any margin from the intended goal aware of the advantages of recycling of plastics this
amount of the NGOs. Instead, we raise a little more than domain still remains untapped. Plastic Recycling helps
their required amount so that even they can complete to reduce the energy usage, consumption of fresh raw
their social impact cause easily. Thus, it’s a win-win for materials. It also reduces the water pollution and the air
everybody. In November last year, Recycle Impact was one SROOXWLRQ IURP WKH ODQG ÀOOLQJ E\ UHGXFLQJ WKH QHHG IRU
of four startups from India to be a part of a Make-in-India/ conventional waste disposal and it reduces the greenhouse
Startup India event in Berlin to showcase the top startups gases emissions.
while too much is talked about safe disposal of plastic
waste the fact reamins that in reality a lot more needd t
be done for there is too much of scope to work and reduce
the plastic waste across te country. The government has
already made it mandatory to use plastics waste in road
laying.
If we want to save the environment, each of us will
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about massive change only when individual citizens,
groups, NGOs, resident welfare associations, startups,
corporates and MNCs come together and work in unison
for government alone cannot do everything.”

27 M a y 2 01 9 Plastics News