🌱 The Challenge
In 2015, Padma Shri Rajagopalan Vasudevan, an Indian scientist and inventor, developed a technique to use plastic waste to build durable roads. A group of Indian students led by Harshit Gupta, a civil engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, took this technique to the next level.
🌱 What Happened
Gupta and his team used a mixture of plastic waste and bitumen to construct more than 100 kilometers of roads across rural India in 2020. The initiative not only provides a solution to the ever-growing problem of plastic waste but also results in cheaper and more durable roads.
💡 Impact
- The initiative has solved the problem of disposing of thousands of tons of plastic that were choking India’s landfills and water bodies.
- The roads built using this technique are 60% stronger than traditional roads and have a longer lifespan.
- The project created jobs and sparked a movement among students to find innovative solutions for environmental issues.
📍 The Bigger Picture
This example of youth power is highly inspiring and shows that young minds can bring tangible changes to society. It’s a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a sustainable future.