A new Waste-to-Wealth recycling factory is set to be established in Fatuha, Patna, which will convert plastic waste into furniture and other useful products. This plant will recycle 10 to 14 tons of plastic waste daily to produce durable items such as chairs, tables, dining tables, benches, buckets, and interlocking tiles. According to Kundan Kumar, Secretary of the Industries Department, this initiative will create 9,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and help in combating plastic pollution.

The factory will focus on recycling single-use and low-quality rejected plastics into sustainable goods. For instance, manufacturing a 20-liter bucket will consume 2 to 3 kilograms of plastic, while a sturdy bench will require at least 40 kilograms of plastic waste. Currently, non-biodegradable plastic constitutes over 60% of urban dumping yards, leading to clogged drains, animal deaths, and soil and groundwater contamination.

Under this scheme, waste pickers and scrap dealers will be integrated into the supply chain, receiving fair prices for their collected waste directly into their bank accounts. Women's self-help groups will be responsible for door-to-door dry waste collection and primary segregation. Government schools, Anganwadi centers, panchayat buildings, and parks will benefit from low-cost, waterproof, and termite-proof durable furniture.

Bihar plans to establish similar Waste-to-Wealth recycling factories zone-wise and then district-wise. A factory has already been opened in Sitamarhi, which received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program. Following Sitamarhi and Fatuha, other districts and zones in Bihar will also see the establishment of such factories.

The process of transforming waste into durable products involves four stages: collection and segregation, cutting and washing, melting and pellet production, and molding and casting. This comprehensive approach aims to effectively manage plastic waste and contribute to environmental protection.