Currently, we are simultaneously operating in Shanag (Himachal Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Shillong (Meghalaya), Majuli (Assam), Agonda (South Goa), Sepi (Darjeeling, WB) and Tezu (Arunachal Pradesh) with the same concept of tapping soft plastic around the area and converting them into bottlebricks by using the labour force of women, youth and children. We are also catering to the sanitary waste generated in these locations by introducing the idea of “menstrual cups”, raising awareness on sustainable menstruation and giving access to menstrual cup at a subsidized and affordable rate. We intend to make these locations a “Plastic Free” zone by establishing a system of waste management where plastic waste is continuously up-cycled and used for the benefit of the community.
Shanag, Himachal Pradesh (Acitvity 1): In Shanag, Himachal Pradesh, GreenAmmo has constructed a toilet using bottlebricks and local wood available. While the walls of the toilet were made using bottlebricks the flooring was made using spare PET bottle caps. Simultaneously, GreenAmmo is now making a public toilet for the under-construction parking space in Shanag Village.
Shanag, Himachal Pradesh (Activity 2): GreenAmmo successfully networked with several cafes, homestays and restaurants in Old Manali to collect all the empty glass bottles generated in their vicinity. Since these establishments are located at non-motortable locations there is no waste management in place to cater to the glass bottles. Also, it becomes risky to send these bottles using mules as it may harm ther animals. Hence, these bottles were transported to the construction site in Shanag village. The location chosen for this construction was an unused and dead space that was previously used for cattle rearing. Along with the local mason wokers and carpenters we constructed a shop for a Lifetysle Brand, Greenaware. The shop was made using 825 glass bottles and a waste tyre as window.
Majuli, Assam: In Majuli, Assam, GreenAmmo has ensured that the entire Garamur Chariali location has become plastic free whereby the community has been mobilized to making bottlebricks against which they are being duly remunerated. Amongst bigger constructions, GreenAmmo has made a toilet and a tent house using bottlebricks. Amongst medium-sized construction, we have made a compound bench and furniture set (of 4) using bottlebricks.
Kolkata, West Bengal: In Kolkata, at Subhash Sarovar Park, GreenAmmo has constructed a Bottlebrick bench using concrete and bottlebricks in association with Inner Wheel Club of Kolkata New Gen. Additionally, GreenAmmo has also consulted and trained the members of the organization to make Bottlebrick furniture (4 stools and 1 table) for schools using bottlebricks and reused plyboards. The bottlebricks were supplied by GreenAmmo to ensure quality of the furniture.
Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh: At Tezu, our project was initiated exclusively by our Project Initiators, Khushbu and Aditiya. The local community was engaged and mobilized to tap the dead plastic collected in their own homes and shops and thereby training was given on making bottlebricks. The Elementary School , Government Secondary School, Telluliam, was a special focus where the children along with administrative heads, were taken for cleanups and the plastic waste collected from the cleanups were converted into bottlebricks. These bottlebricks will now be used for a construction within and for the community, supported by Lakhim Ji, our local correspondent at Tezu.
Shillong, Meghalaya: In Meghalaya GreenAmmo is actively working with Dak_Ti, an organization dedicated to empower the ancient art of bamboo and pottery. In the yearly (Christmas time) festival of Winter Tales organized by Dak_Ti, GreenAmmo caters to the waste management of the entire week-long festival while at the same time doing awareness programs regarding Eco-friendly community festivities. At every Winter Tales Festival we put an installation made out of bottlebricks and other upcycled waste materials.
Additionally, GreenAmmo is also a part of the Skills Development program of Dak_Ti where the people from the various village clusters (under Dak_Ti’s operations) are given extensive lessons on waste management, waste segregation and skills development through Bottlebrick making. Recently, GreenAmmo has mobilized and empowered the “Adivasi” women of Meghalaya to engage them in making cushions using waste/scrap fabric and washed and disinfected soft/dead plastic. These cushions are used by Dak_Ti for their famous merchandise, bamboo cushion covers.
GreenAmmo in collaboration with Directorate of School Education & Literacy, Meghalaya and My Meghalaya My Pride, has initiated the S.U.P.E.R CAMPAIGN 2024, whihc is an inter school Plastic Bottle Brick making competition. The aim of this campaign is to ensure all the children from the schools in Meghalaya start making bottlebricks in their own homes and respective schools as a part of source tapping process. The mode of competitiion gives a healthy incentive to both the institution and thh students to keep making bottlebricks which will eventually be used for infrastructure development in rural Meghalaya.
South Goa, Goa: GreenAmmo is soon about to construct an eco-friendly habitat in South Goa. We are coverting a dead barraen land into a fine habitat for all nature lovers to stay in peace. While one part of the accomodation will be made using discarded busses and shipping boxes, one entire segment will be dedicated to bottlebrick construction. For the collection of bottlebricks, beach clean ups are conducted starting with North Goa. So far, the beaches that have been covered are Arambol, Anjuna, Baga, Morjim, Calangute and so on. The bottlebricks made during the segregated cleanups will be used for the construction under plan.
Sepi, Darjeeling Districe, WB: In Sepi we have ensured that making bottlebricks making is now a part of the school curriculum where valid internl marks will be alloted for making bottlebricks to every sudent making it a mandatory school activity. This has now ensured that students are taking positive part in waste seggregation and bottlebrick making right at the source (their home and school). Simultaneously, we have formed a strong team of 20 women who are part of the Self Help Groups who will regularly make bottlebricks and have target oriented work against remuneration. These women will conduct seggregated clean ups in their own vicinity and convert all the dead plastic into bottlebricks which will thereon be used for larger infrastructure development of the Sepi Gaon itself.
