New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the latest episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, drew national attention to plastic pollution, a pressing global environmental challenge and an easy and possible solution that has emerged from Sitamarhi district in Bihar.
Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing global environmental challenges. Single-use plastic waste persists in nature for years, clogging drains, harming soil fertility and polluting water sources. Proper collection, scientific recycling and reuse have therefore become essential.
PM Modi mentioned the Sitamarhi initiative, “Waste to wealth”, where waste is being recycled. Single-use plastic waste is being transformed into strong, durable, comfortable and eco-friendly benches.
Each bench made consumes approximately 40 kilograms of single-use plastic. These benches are durable and attractive, and are being installed in government schools, parks and other public spaces.
The initiative not only provides useful seating but also spreads awareness about environmental conservation among students and citizens, he said.
Children are learning that the plastic they once discarded as waste can, through technology and proper management, become a valuable community asset. This effort demonstrates that the principles of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” are no longer mere slogans but are becoming an integral part of daily life, PM Modi said.
“The district administration has also played a pivotal role, partnering with the local unit,” he said.
Plastic is collected from across the district, cleaned, sorted and processed before being moulded into benches. In one documented phase, about 8,000 kg of single-use plastic was collected from four blocks (Dumra, Riga, Bajpatti and Runnisaidpur); 4,000 kg of it was recycled into 85 attractive benches.
The model includes revenue-sharing arrangements that support the administration while sustaining the industrial partner, and it creates local employment in collection, sorting, transport and processing.
By turning a persistent pollutant into useful public infrastructure, Sitamarhi offers a practical, replicable example of circular economy in action.
PM Modi’s message from ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is clear: collective participation in segregation and recycling can convert an environmental challenge into an opportunity for cleaner surroundings, local livelihoods and a more sustainable India.
(IANS)
