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National Geographic magazine’s June 2018 cover garnered a lot of attention. Created by Mexican artist Jorge Gamboa, the cover aimed to create awareness about the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment. Today, it isn’t just leading publications or public platforms that have realised the disadvantages that come with the use of plastic, there is visible change in individual approaches as well. Many Indians are working tirelessly to look for suitable alternatives that can replace plastic. Awareness with respect to environmental conversation is rampant at the moment and rightly so.
Jumping on this bandwagon of change makers is Bangalore based non-profit Swachha. Swachha has devised a method that can convert discarded plastic waste into tiles and irrigation pipes. ‘Re-Tile’ is what the non-profit is calling these sustainable tiles. This project is being undertaken by Swachha in association with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and is being executed by the Eco Solutions arm of the non-profit.
These recyclable tiles are said to be heat resistant, fire retardant and carry a load of up to 35 tonnes.Adding to this the tiles are water-proof, have rainwater harvesting capabilities, and can be customised depending on the customers’ preferences in terms of design. Shampoo bottles, disposable restaurant containers, milk covers and water bottles are some of the things that have been recycled to make the tiles.
“Swachha Re-Tile recycled floor tiles are made of recycled Polypropylene (PP) materials and utilise a unique interlocking edge design to eliminate the need for adhesives, making installation quick and inexpensive. These tiles are non-porous, flexible and durable. Our tiles remain steady despite heavy traffic and footfall. They can be installed directly over damaged or problem floors with minimal sub-floor preparations. Moreover, they are resistant to most solvents, chemicals and abrasions, and simple to maintain, reconfigure or remove,” said project leader V Ramprasad in an interview with Better India. “We use the plastic given to us by the BBMP. Our research is complete, and we have moved on to manufacturing the tiles as per the requirements. Until now we have not approached any investors for funding, but are open to collaborating for research and further product development through the Institute for Resource Recovery and Management. The institute does all the research and the products after due tests are given to Swachha Eco Solutions for manufacturing,” he added.
The process of making the tiles entails plastic waste being broken down using a grinding machine. The broken down plastic flakes are then converted into a useful form, which is later used as raw material for recycled tiles and irrigation pipes. Swachha is trying to price the tiles so as to compete with the prices of cement blocks, that is, at around INR 70 to INR 90 per square fee. The cost will vary depending on quality, design, colour and load bearing capacity.
In the past, Swachha has teamed up with BBMP to work towards rehabilitation of waste pickers as dry waste collection centre operators. Swachha Eco Solutions’ inception was the aftermath of this collaboration.
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