Phool-proof: Indian group turns Ganga's waste to incense sticks
An Indian man has taken the responsibility of cleaning the holy river Ganga (Ganges) by recycling floral waste. Here's how he does it
A team of 100 women have come together to clean India's holy river Ganges, as part of Ankit Agarwal's Phool.co initiative.
A team of 100 women have come together to clean India's holy river Ganges, as part of Ankit Agarwal's Phool.co initiative.
(Photograph:Reuters)
First, workers remove floral waste from outside of temples located on banks of the river Ganges.
First, workers remove floral waste from outside of temples located on banks of the river Ganges. Floral waste is one of mot common forms of pollution in the river Ganges as Indians typically offer flowers at temples as a mark of devotion. Nearly eight million tonnes of those offerings end up in the country's rivers each year - along with sewage and industrial and domestic waste.
(Photograph:Reuters)
Then, workers knead powder made from discarded flowers to prepare incense sticks out of them.
Then, workers knead powder made from discarded flowers to prepare incense sticks out of them. The organisation also makes garlands and colours out of these discarded flowers.
(Photograph:Reuters)
The organisation also infuses the paper of the incense sticks with basil seeds
The organisation also infuses the paper of the incense sticks with basil seeds. "The concept was, once we use these products, please sow the packaging and a Tulsi (basil) plant would grow out of it and the packaging really helped us establish our brand," Agarwal explained.
(Photograph:Reuters)
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Phool.co has received investment from the social arm of the Tata business group, and most of the women he has employed used to work as manual scavengers or were jobless.
Phool.co has received investment from the social arm of the Tata business group, and most of the women he has employed used to work as manual scavengers or were jobless.