Households and businesses in the Darjeeling District now have a structured way to at least pur their their used beverage cartons into a waste stream thanks to a collaborative initiative between Tieedi Permaculture Foundation and Tetra Pak. This partnership offers responsible waste collection and attempts to empower informal waste workers by providing them with recognition, training, and healthcare support.
Tieedi, an environmental organization committed to zero-waste solutions, has partnered with Tetra Pak, a global enterprise in food processing and packaging solutions, to establish a decentralized collection and recycling system for used beverage cartons also known as liquid aseptic cartons. The initiative will facilitate the recovery of used cartons through an on-ground network of waste workers and community participation. All collected cartons will then be sent to what is being described in a press release as ‘the nearest recycler,’ Khatema Fibres, in Uttarakhand for recycling.
As part of the initiative, Tieedi is working closely with waste workers to formalize their role in the waste management ecosystem. It says waste pickers will be trained in efficient collection and segregation of aseptic beverage cartons and provided other livelihood support such as health cards for medical support, and possibly being connected to a structured recycling network for additional income. Additionally, students from Sonada Degree College will collect data on waste pickers to help bridge the gap between academic research and real-world waste management challenges.
Aseptic beverage cartons, made primarily of 70% paperboard, are made of several layers including plastic and aluminum and are generally only down–cyclable. Nevertheless the they can be processed into materials such as paper products for secondary packaging, eCommerce packaging, stationery, roofing sheets from poly-aluminum panels, and composite sheets used by the automobile and logistics industry, and for making furniture.
Utsow Pradhan, founder at Tieedi, said, “We are very excited about this collaboration with Tetra Pak India as it fosters the beginning of a synergy between bulk producers of material goods and local grassroots organization to overcome the challenges of waste mismanagement in our hills. It is also a landmark occasion where for the first time ever the ignored waste pickers (kabaadiwallas) have been given a platform where their work is recognized and they receive the dignity that they deserve in our society. Even though the kabaadiwallas work in the informal sector, they are one of the most impactful climate action activists in India whose work ensures that a huge chunk of the waste that is discarded irresponsibly by consumers still land up in the recycling hubs. We thank Tetra Pak India for their support for this project.”
Juhi Gupta, sustainability director, Tetra Pak South Asia said, “This partnership is a great example of like-minded partners coming together to take a challenge and convert that into an opportunity to do the right thing. We are very happy to partner with Tieedi on this initiative and believe that together we are setting a wonderful precedent in this region for decentralized, community-driven waste management solutions that benefit both the environment and the people working to keep it clean.”
Note – Edited on 6 April 2025 for fact checking, clarification and style.
