Dubai
From books to wrappers, paper is still being used everywhere and most of it is ending up in the landfills, creating a staggering amount of paper waste. At least 42 per cent of all global wood harvest is used to make paper. After all that work, is it the right thing to do to just throw your books in the trash when you’re done using them? Gulf News readers don’t seem to think so.
Neola Castelino, a pupil based in Sharjah, has been recycling newspapers for two years now. In 2015, she decided to take it a step further and turned her focus to books.
She said: “The books that I recycled were the ones that cannot be reused any further. However, the books that were in a good condition, I would either pass them on to my juniors or donate them to student or non-profit organisations that collect books and gives them away to needy children.”
But, that’s not it. She has roped in her neighbours to help out, too.
She said: “A few months ago, I had conducted a survey with my neighbours to ask them what they did with paper and books. Many of them used to throw the books away as soon as the annual school results were out, but after meeting them personally and explaining to them the value of paper, they started giving me their old books along with newspapers.
“In the evenings, I go around my building to collect books and papers from them and store them at my place. I seperate the books based on whether they are novels or text books from school and even keep the ones that cannot be reused aside. The novels are usually given to the children’s libraries in Dubai and for school text books, I spread the news about donating these books at my school as well as in my building. Whoever is unable to afford to buy new books can then make use of them. Once a month, I hand over the books that cannot be reused to the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) based in Dubai for recycling. We regularly spread the word through social media so that more students can take part in this noble cause.”
The pupil has also donated several books to the Al Mankhool Public Library in Dubai.
She said: “Many students came to my place and left their storybooks and novels in an ample amount. I then had an opportunity to drop them off at the library.”
Nityashri Sankaran, a pupil based in Dubai, also recycles school text books.
She said: “My sister and I usually give our books to junior students for use during the following year and we generally get a set of books from our seniors. This way we do not have to purchase the full set of new books from school; we only get notebooks, workbooks and any books with renewed editions. Books that are in a bad condition are handed over to EEG for recycling.”
Rohan Kapur, a student based in Dubai and the founder of a Dubai-based youth group, Serve The Earth, has been working on a similar initiative.
He said: “Our youth group has over 70 members, and I started the book recycling initiative last year. I placed the ‘3R’s Pick and Drop Green Box’ outside my home, and students from all over my community came to drop off their books to either pass on to their juniors or for recycling. Additionally, they got to pick up course and reference books that they needed. My aim was to ensure that not a single book in my building goes into the trash.”
Kapur also uses social media channels to spread the word about the initiative.
He said: “Novels, storybooks and comics should never be disposed. I always find children, of ages to match the books, and pass them on. Otherwise, I donate them to the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, a non-profit organisation. They carry out the Biennial Used Book Fair, where I not only donate but also volunteer at the stalls, to ensure the I am able to recommend the best books to genuine readers.”
To practice what he preaches, Kapur says he also uses hand-me-down books.
He said: “Every book ever printed should be put to use again and again. Another option that is recommended is handing over reference books to school teachers, for their future reference in teaching. If a book deems completely unusable, I recycle it by giving it to the Bee’ah Waste Management Centre in Sharjah or EEG. Many children have been encouraged by my work and have started similar initiatives in their buildings.”
