CONVERT HOUSE TRASH INTO TREAURE

Turning household trash into treasure in Chennai is not only possible but actively supported by various community initiatives, NGOs, and municipal programs designed to promote a circular economy. 

From turning kitchen waste into compost to upcycling plastic bottles into art, Chennai residents can convert garbage into valuable resources.

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1. Organic Waste: From Kitchen to Garden

• Home Composting: Turn fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and garden waste into rich manure for home gardening.
• Community Composting: Participate in local initiatives, such as those run by the Namma Ooru Foundation
  , which transforms organic waste into compost, selling it for as low as ₹7-₹10 per kg.
• Micro-Composting Centers (MCC): Utilize local GCC-run MCCs that convert daily organic waste into compost, preventing it from reaching landfills.
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• 2. Plastic & Dry Waste: Upcycling and Recycling
  • Ekatvam: Donate plastic waste to Ekatvam, which converts it into materials that support community livelihoods.
  • Eco-bricks: Create bricks by stuffing plastic bottles with dry, non-recyclable plastic, which can then be used for small, non-structural constructions.
  • GCC "Kuppai Thiruvizha": Participate in Greater Chennai Corporation’s "Kuppai Thiruvizha" (Garbage Festivals) held at Marina Beach and other locations. These events pay for dry waste, including hard plastics (₹15/kg), paper (₹4/kg), and aluminium (₹45/kg).
  • Upcycled Art: Chennai-based creators, like @artschittaara, turn discarded glass bottles into artistic, painted night lamps, selling them for between ₹300 and ₹1000+. 
  3. Electronic & Metal Waste
  • Scrap Collection: Utilize local "Kabadiwala" services for door-to-door collection of household scrap metal, old appliances, and paper to be recycled.
  • Electronic Waste Drives: Join special e-waste collection drives aimed at safely disposing of and recycling old phone components and computers, which often contain precious, reclaimable materials. 
  4. Community and Digital Resources
  • Oh Scrap Madras: Engage with organizations that focus on sustainability and upcycling workshops to learn how to repurpose discarded textiles and materials.
  • Social Media Groups: Join local Chennai-based green groups (like on WhatsApp or Instagram) that organize community cleanups and share, barter, or donate unwanted items.
  • The Better India & Local News: Keep up with initiatives featured by local media, which often highlight individuals turning plastic, bottles, and other waste into functional furniture. 
  Summary of Value from Trash
  • Plastic Bottles/Hard Plastic: ₹15/kg (at select GCC events).
  • Paper/Cardboard: ₹4/kg.
  • Aluminium: ₹45/kg.
  • Organic Waste: Free, high-quality compost for gardens.
  • Bottles: Upcycled into decor/lamps (value-added)
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