Our history
The main crux of GreenAmmo is to have a system of waste management that can cover every kind of mass. Indian subcontinent is such a diverse land that to have a unified system is next to impossible. Therefore, we have to draw out a plan that does not drag people out from their own struggles of life rather help them fight their daily battles and at the same time save what is left of this planet. The first step towards this was to change the attitude people have towards waste, to change the very definition of it. From something that is not desirable or wanted to add a value to it so that people do not resort to throwing or disposing at all. This meant we had to categorize waste into various segments, then choose which segments we would specifically cater to.
After a research we resorted to begin the journey with kinds of waste…
Plastic waste: The biggest menace that we have is that of plastic, both poly-metalized, single use as well as clear plastic which is not taken by any scrap dealer. The areas where we choose to work are so remote that mobility barriers stops any municipality. reach up to the locations.
Wet Waste: The peculiarity of human nature is such that over the years we have come of the habit to mix all our plastic and wet waste. The latter, actually being a godly in manure without harmful chemicals, turns out to be a filth in landfill.
Sanitary waste: There are three locations where sanitary waste ends up, the land, the landfill or the air(result of burning). But sanitary waste takes up a large portion in the World of Waste. Have you ever seen anyone recycle sanitary waste or up cycle it? It is unhygienic and undesirable to the best of environment enthusiasts.
Cloth/fabric waste: With the rising trend in consumerism and the vicious cycle of Fast Fashion, the amount of fabric waste is increasing at a fearful rate. Hardly any of the old rags are put into recycling centers or used till the end of their shelf life. This results in more and more deforestation due to cotton plantation or sericulture.
Towards a new step…
The funny part is everyone knows about these problems. But what is the solution? GreenAmmo believes that a solution is one that allows both a child and a professional to be a part of it.
Bottlebricks: One of the easiest ways to tap plastic waste, both from the source of generation as well that which has already been thrown, is making bottle bricks. After all, what does it take? One plastic bottle, one stick and the abundant supply of plastic. Once the bottle is filled enough to have no space for air, we keep making more and more of it. A good number of bottlebricks can be used for making portable furniture which can be used in Govt schools for infrastructure or even the restaurants and cafes. These bricks can be used for a number of construction purposes like toilets, compounds, fencing, wells and so on. Imagine this, one brick costs around INR 14 (AVG), while the bottlebricks are coming for free. While construction, all one has to invest into is the labour and the cement. The cost of brick is literally ZERO!
Compost pit/bin: All it takes to stop the wet waste from going into the landfill is the simple process of having compost bin (if you lack land) or dig a compost pit(if you are lucky to have a land to spare). The process of composting is very simple with layers of “browns” and “Green” and some soil. We have been working with wet waste so teaching children, young and adult the step by step process was not difficult. We sometimes crackle the audience up with “If you have no place to use the compost, just throw it around any land you find, let nature get back its boon”.
Check our tutorial on how to make compost bin:
Menstrual cups: While plastic waste can be recycled or up-cycled, sanitary waste, especially sanitary napkins cannot be given any other form under the economic consideration of India. While one of the substitutes in using cloth pad there is hardly any woman who wants to get back into the era of using cloth pads. Plus the hygiene is a huge factor because unless sundried, the cloth cannot be used again. Here comes the MAGIC of menstrual cups. A menstrual cup is a silicon cup, the very material used to make baby feeding bottles, so the safety issue is negated right there. One menstrual cup lasts of 12 long years with an INR of 600-1000. A single woman spends around INR 1300 per year on one-time use napkins burning or dumping around 10000 napkins. Also, unlike sanitary napkins the cup is not made of cotton that cause a number of health related issues like dry cervix, sweat marks, skin irritation and so on. You can swim, dance, trek, bathe, pee and poop all wearing the menstrual cup. The maintenance cost is literally free because it only demands proper boiling before and after the menstrual cycle.
Thrifting: In order to be able to reuse the old clothes in good condition we have put up small Green Stalls near our GreenCabins where second hand clothes (of course after washing and cleaning) as well as upcycled clothes are put up for a new consumers and travelers to purchase and put into optimal use. We also release online tutorial and informative videos at our DIY sessions (YouTube) on how to upcycle old pieces of fabrics to teach people to turn their old clothing into something new. GreenAmmo supports thrifting and second-hand clothing and openly talks about it (both online and offline).
Water purification through Bio Enzyme: Bio Enzymes are highly effective in water remediation and reducing water pollution due to their unique properties and mechanisms of action. Bioenzymes are derived from natural sources such as plants, fruits, and microbes. They are non-toxic and biodegradable, making them environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical-based water treatment methods. We guide the local villagers on the making and utilization of bio enzymes. Utilising bioenzymes, the harmful impact on aquatic ecosystems is minimised. We integrate bioenzymes into existing wastewater treatment systems, providing an additional layer of treatment and enhancing the overall efficiency of the process. They can complement conventional treatment methods and improve the removal of persistent pollutants that are challenging to treat using conventional processes alone.