https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Turning Plastic Waste into Wealth in Changlang

It is not just a plastic shredding unit in Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh, launched there by Deputy Commissioner Devansh Yadav. It is aiding thousands of locals and scores of women in the district, by generating employment and livelihood opportunities for them.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Changlang, the second most populous district in Arunachal Pradesh, which takes waste from three neighboring districts – Lohit, Namsai, and Tirap- has been dealing with a lack of waste management infrastructure and limited waste segregation. This is because there are no waste processing units in Changlang. However, in 2019 an AIIMS doctor-turned-IAS officer installed a plastic shredder unit which is now transforming `waste into wealth’, besides boosting the rural economy in the insurgency-hit district.

ISSUES REALTED TO WASTE MANAGEMENT

This officer is Mr Devansh Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Changlang. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, he said “The main issue is that no processing of waste takes place in the district. And at place where processing can take place, there is a lack of adequate landfills to dispose the waste. Even the places having landfills are not scientifically managed.

“There are four biodiversity hotspots in India and Changlang falls under the North-Eastern one, which covers the eastern Assam and Namdapha National Park. With a rise in population at a place which is a biodiversity hotspot and militancy hotbed, several issues are faced as more plastic waste is generated.”

Also, in a developing district like Changlang, road construction projects are being accorded the highest priority.

GROWTH AND EVOLUTION

With the lack of landfills in the Changlang district, the village panchayat volunteered in identifying a dumping ground in Kumung Pather Village. Thereafter, door to door waste collection started in Bordumsa town, and waste started accumulating in the dumping ground. Soon, as the waste was being accumulated, demands started coming from the panchayat for the disposal of waste.

Plastic Shredding Unit

Acting upon the demands, centrally-located Kumung Pather village got the first plastic shredding unit in the district. The village’s vicinity to the national highway made it the first choice to install the unit. The project not only encouraged the local residents to gain employment, but it also got shortlisted in the top six projects for innovation under the Prime Minister’s Awards, 2020!

THE PROCESS

Changlang being new to the development stage in the state, road construction projects became the highest priority for the administration. Mr. Yadav said, “While the road construction project was being undertaken, I saw the opportunity to converge it with the plastic shredding unit.”

Segregated plastic bottles being used to built a Greenhouse unit in Changlang.

Soon the plastic shredding unit consisting of three machines was installed, seeking funds from oil exploration major Oil India Limited (OIL), under its corporate social responsibility (CSR). A company based in Hyderabad called Recykal limited came on board and helped in channelizing of funds for the project, under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Plastic waste was transported from the neighboring districts of Lohit, Namsai, and Tirap. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the process remained inoperative and there was a lag of six months. According to Mr. Yadav, “Around 13-14 metric tonne of plastic was shredded which generated revenue amounting to Rs. 2.75 lakhs.”

BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT

This process of accumulating waste to shredding it for making roads in the district is benefitting a lot of people. First of all, over a thousand people in the Kumung Pather village panchayat are benefitting from the revenue earned through the process. The profits is also helping in addressing local development needs like school repairs and installation of solar lights etc.

The process is also generating livelihood opportunities as the local youth from the village are getting employment for running the plastic shredding machine. Apart from this, 60-70 Self Help Group (SHG) of women in all the four districts are being mobilized The SHG and the waste pickers are also getting linked with the market.

Lastly, the shredded plastic from the waste processing unit is also coming out handy in the road construction work. The use of this plastic will lead to stronger and low maintenance roads.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Yogi Adityanath CM
CM Yogi Adityanath’s Dhanteras Greeting: A Vision of Health, Prosperity & Economic Growth for Uttar Pradesh
CM yogi Adityanath
‘Samarth Uttar Pradesh 2047’: Youth and Rural Communities Lead Historic Public Consultation with 4.2 Million Suggestions
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
Rs. 7,737 Crore for Gujarat Roads: CM Bhupendra Patel Approves Nine New High-Speed Corridors for Safer Commutes
CM Vishnu Deo Singh
Chhattisgarh's Historic Breakthrough: 208 Naxalites Surrender Paving Way for Peace & Development, Says CM Vishnu Deo Sai
CM Hemant Soren
488 Assistant Professors Promoted in Jharkhand: Hemant Soren Govt Advances Long-Pending Academic Upliftment Drive
mohan Yadav
Madhya Pradesh’s Farmers Win Big: 90 % Subsidy on Solar Pumps & Bhavantar Safety Net Boost Income under CM Dr. Mohan Yadav
Pending Execution Petitions
India’s Justice System in Crisis: 8.8 Lakh Execution Petitions Still Pending, Supreme Court Demands Urgent Action
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
NDA's Bihar Roadmap Unveiled: CM Pushkar Dhami Highlights Women Empowerment, Housing, and Rule of Law
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Ruchi Jat MPPSC
She Worked in Fields, Danced Ghoomar - Now She’ll Govern Districts: Ruchi Jat Cracks MPPSC 2024 with Rank 6, Becomes Deputy Collector
From a farmer's daughter in Pipalkhunta to securing 6th rank in MPPSC 2024, Ruchi Jat's inspiring journey...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Yogi Adityanath CM
CM Yogi Adityanath’s Dhanteras Greeting: A Vision of Health, Prosperity & Economic Growth for Uttar Pradesh
CM yogi Adityanath
‘Samarth Uttar Pradesh 2047’: Youth and Rural Communities Lead Historic Public Consultation with 4.2 Million Suggestions
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT