Sunday, July 13, 2014

.: Waste product goes around the world :.

Just recently I came back from a short trip in few different places.
Always, if possible I brought some pouches from waste-based products in my luggage.

I gave it as a gift to my friends in Europe, or asked them to buy it in reasonable prices (2-3 Eur). It's not money motivated me to do this. It's the awareness to spread the messages that your wastes could be unused and clogging the pipeline or floating on the river (which is very common view, if you ever visited developing parts in Asia). Or else, the very same waste materials could be reused and resell it to make income.
Of course there is creativity process in between to add more values, before the used-to-be waste materials could be sold as handicrafts.

This is the interesting part for me, as the creativity process actually came from those who 'categorized' as low economic group, living not very far from where the garbage storage.
Oh.... what I really like, they are mostly housewives (isn't great that women always know how to make things better?)

They (or some people as initiator) refused to accept the situation that they could not change their future. It took some time until people realized and they got more publicity from local (and later national) news.

During my several visits to the area, I have heard stories from the housewives how the situation before they become 'empowered' basically from trashes.
When it rained, oftentimes their houses (or the whole alleys) got drowned for one and half meter (!!!!)
It was because people just threw everything on the river, including a big sofa bed (believe me, some people in this world think it's normal to just throw away ANYTHING on the river).

The fact that their houses got drowned didn't always relate to how they should treat their garbage. It took some time of course by building awareness, build the system (e.g. to separate organic and plastic wastes), as well incentives by selling their products.

I must admit the efforts of these simple housewives to build their community not just inspirational, but also beneficial in terms of making themselves respected and getting financially independent.

These are the stories I shared to my friends every time I gave them the waste-based products.
It probably only cost 2-3 euros, which is nothing really even for them.

For a medium sized pouch (length 11 x height 6 x width 2 cm) they need at least 150 small sachets and some hours to work on it. It was all handmade.

this what your 150 instant coffee sachets could do
When I asked them why they did not want to sell it on higher prices to foreigner tourists (because they could and make much more sense). FYI, at this moment they already have buyers from all over the world due to the widespread publicity. They have sold it to tourists from Japan, European and Asian countries nearby.

Here's what they said : They have agreement beforehand among the housewives and they have set certain prices. Doesn't really matter who are the buyers, they're going to sell only based on these agreed prices. It is not money they are looking for.

This fact has impacted on me so much and motivated me to do something for the benefit of them.
That's why I started this blog (it's free anyway) and tried to resell the products among my close friends. 

What I also really wish, people would gain awareness to treat their garbage wisely.
I did it already from our home. We separated plastic bottles, instant coffee (or drink) sachets, paper waste, organic wastes etc.
Just like what I did when I lived in Europe (even for a short period).
We even tried to make our own eco-enzyme recently and encouraged people to do so : )

I believe we could really make big differences in life by doing small things.