Environment school near Lonavala makes the best of waste left by tourists

At the school,he conducts workshops for students of nearby schools,and its message is spread even in Talegaon and Khandala. “In the workshops,we teach them to reuse waste materials. Here,our belief is that nothing is useless. Everything can be reused and recycled. The students collect bottles,soda cans,plastic cups,spoons and Styrofoam utensils from the nearby area. Since Lonavala is a tourist hot-spot,there is no dearth of waste matter. These waste products are then used to make items of everyday use,with an aesthetic appeal,” Khaire said.

Over the last one year,the students have been taught to make chandeliers from Styrofoam cups and lamp shades from plastic spoons. They use transparent films to decorate windows. “We use plastic soda and cola bottles to make water heaters. Old broken suitcases are used to make solar cookers. Students learn the importance of recycling and also helping recreate these things in their own villages and homes,” says Khaire. The project is not just limited to this feature. All the waste generated in the school is reused. They have developed a water step that helps pump water three floors up using hydraulic and pneumatic energy.

Khaire is pleasantly amused when people ask him if he was an engineer. “I am just a simple ordinary person,who teaches children about how to conserve the environment. All we need is for everyone to pitch in and do their own bit to save our eco-system,” he added.