Plastic pollution in India is a severe problem. More than 3.5 million tons of plastic waste is generated per annum, most of which ends up in our water bodies and landfills. This has serious impacts on the life of all living beings. In the wake of this, 11-year-old environmental activist, Licypriya Kangujam opened up the world’s first ‘plastic money shop’ as a powerful step to eliminate the use of single-use plastic products.
Licypriya is a class 5 student in Ryan International School, Noida. She is one of the youngest climate activists known for addressing world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2019 (COP25).
Plastic Money Shop: To Eliminate SUP Items From Daily Lives
Plastic Money Shop is a concept where people can bring any single-use plastic waste and collect rice or stationery items or a sapling for free. We accept only single-use plastic waste as money said Licypriya. The project had been in her plans since the pandemic and has finally been launched at Delhi University.
The single-use plastic waste collected from her shop will be sent to Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. It will be upcycled to produce eco-friendly road tiles, house roof sheets, bricks, school benches, desks bricks, etc. These products are displayed at her shop to demonstrate our choices’ impact on the betterment of the environment.
The young environmental activist said she chose Delhi University because “if we want to fight climate change, it should start at a place where students, youngsters, and academicians thrive together.”
Such a meaningful step taken by youth leaders like Licypriya is a stepping stone towards changing our attitude among the future pillars of the world. Developing an eco-friendly outlook and a scientific temperament that will promote technology that benefits the environment rather than becoming a burden by depleting scarce resources must be our top priority.