1) A group of children noticed a large rubbish dump near their neighborhood that had become a health hazard and tried to get the elders to resolve the problem. 2) When the elders did not act, the children came up with a plan to make reusable bags from milk pouches to reduce plastic waste and help clean up the dump. 3) After several iterations, the children created reusable bags that were a success and sold out quickly. They plan to continue their work and teach others to make bags as well.

1. A PROJECT FOR
DFC 2012
BY ANANDO

2. DIPANKAR
BABY
SREEMOYEE
SHIBANI
AKSHAY

3. It all started with a
nasty rubbish
dump…..
This rubbish heap
lies right in the heart
of our neighborhood.
We have to pass it
everyday. Located in
an abandoned
building it has
flowed onto the
adjoining path and
has become a health
hazard for us all.

4. We talked to the ??
elders in the
neighborhood
about the correct ?
way to resolve this
problem. But it
emerged that there
were many
complications
because the dump
was located on
private property
?
and there were
many vested ?
interests in it.
WHAT TO DO??

5. We waited a long
time for the elders
to get back to us. In
the meantime ,
Dipankar had a
brainwave!
„A large part of the
trash on the dump is
made up of plastic
packets. The wind
blows them onto the
path and makes it
difficult for us to walk
that way. Why not find
a way to stop people
using so many plastic
packets?”

6. More brainstorming
and consultations with
parents who are
vendors led us to the
conclusion:
We would make
re-usable bags out of
used milk pouches.
Dipankar and Baby‟s
father, a fishmonger,
would then use them
in his shop instead of
the flimsy bags he now
uses.

7. We chose milk
pouches because
they are made of
thick plastic and it
would be possible
to use them several
times. Further the
bags would get
recycled in the
process.

8. A list was soon
drawn up of all the
people who could
collect milk
pouches for us.
Responsibilities f or
collection were
assigned to each
member.

9. The milk pouches
soon started
piling up…
We washed them
thoroughly with
soap and water to
remove the smell of
stale milk.

10. Then we
disinfected them by
dipping in buckets
of soap and Dettol
.

11. Shibani decided
that it was taking
too long to collect
the packets from so
many homes. So
she approached a
tea stall in her
locality and
acquired lots and
lots of packets in
one go! The stall
owner made her
promise to give him
a bag when they
were ready!

12. We then started
sewing the bags
together and soon a
prototype was
ready f or
inspection!
But….Dipankar‟s
father did not
approve it!
“It looks too
flimsy…my
customers will
ref use to accept
these”, he said.

13. NOW WHAT?
While we were
pondering the
problem, our friend
Subhash came to
the rescue. Subhash
sells vegetables
after school and he
suggested that the
customers would
accept the bags if
they were prettier
and especially if we
could cover the
milk pouches
somehow….

14. Back to the drawing
board!
We now decided to
paste the packets
on cloth before
sewing them
together. This
would surely make
them more
presentable!
Our mothers and
teachers readily
came forward with
their old saris …so
we had a lot o cloth
to paste on.

15. We tried to get
others to help us
sew the bags on a
sewing machine.
But no one had the
time!
So we decided to
sew them by hand.
Our other friends
helped us too.
One of our teachers
helped us by
putting in eyelets
for the handles.

16. And finally our
reusable shopping
bags were ready !

17. We explained our
purpose to the local
shopkeeper.
He was very happy
to stock some of
the bags and sell
them for Rs. 10
each.
They were a sell-out
in a matter of days!

18. Our teachers
and neighbors
were also eager
to buy the bags.
Subhash too
wanted a few to
sell from his
vegetable cart.
In a week we
had sold all 20!

19. We remembered
to give our tea
stall “kaku” a
bag too. He has
promised to give
us a regular
supply of milk
pouches!

20. A FEW OBSTACLES
It took a long time for the elders of our neighborhood to
arrive at a decision regarding the rubbish dump. So we had
to modify our plan.
The first set of bags did not look appealing or long lasting
We could not find anyone with a sewing machine who was
ready to help us . Everyone was too busy with the onset o f
the festival season. They promised to help us later but it
would be too late by then!

21. WAY FORWARD
We are not done yet!
Our first set of bags were nice but they need more
work to make them better. We have to make them
stronger next time.
Many of our friends at Anando joined in to make the
bags. We now plan to teach everyone in our Anando
class how to make the bags. Soon everyone will have
one to take home.
The shop and many of our first customers want more
bags….So all of us plan to continue making the bags in
the months to come.

22. And as for the
rubbish dump…….
We hear that the
municipal
corporation is
planning to remove
it. But we intend to
keep following up
on our petition
until something is
done about it .

23. YES,
WE CAN !