Patna/Sitamarhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised a waste management initiative from Bihar’s Sitamarhi district that transforms single-use plastic into durable benches, describing it as an example of how local innovation can address the global challenge of plastic pollution.
Speaking during the 136th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, PM Modi said the district’s ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative had demonstrated that discarded plastic could be converted into a valuable public resource through recycling and better waste management.
Turning Plastic Waste Into Public Infrastructure
Under the initiative, around 40 kilograms of single-use plastic waste is recycled to manufacture a single bench.
The benches are installed in government schools, parks and other public spaces, providing seating while reducing plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or the environment.
PM Modi said the project reflected the principle of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”, adding that it had moved beyond being a slogan to becoming part of everyday life.
More Than Just Benches
The Prime Minister said the initiative was also helping to build environmental awareness among students and local communities.
He noted that children were learning how plastic, once regarded as waste, could be transformed into a useful product through recycling technology and effective management.
According to PM Modi, the project demonstrates how environmental conservation and public utility can go hand in hand.
District Administration Partners With Local Industry
The initiative is being implemented by the Sitamarhi district administration in partnership with Rai Industries, a Buxar-based company, under a commercial agreement.
Plastic waste collected from across the district is cleaned, sorted and processed before being converted into benches at a recycling unit in Bajpatti.
According to the district administration, 85 benches have already been manufactured in the first phase by recycling around 4,000 kilograms of plastic waste. The benches have been distributed to government schools, rural panchayats and Panchayat Sarkar Bhawans across the district.
Officials said the recycling process also reduces procurement costs, saving around Rs 2,000 on each bench compared with conventional alternatives.
Expansion Underway Across Sitamarhi
Waste processing units have been established at Bajpatti, Runnisaidpur, Dumra and Riga under the Lohia Swachh Abhiyan.
Production is currently underway at the Bajpatti unit, while the Runnisaidpur facility is expected to begin manufacturing benches and other furniture from recycled plastic next month.
Sitamarhi District Magistrate Richie Pandey has overseen the distribution of the recycled benches to panchayats and public institutions.
Thousands Of Kilograms Of Plastic Already Collected
Officials said approximately 11,000 kilograms of plastic waste has been collected so far for processing at the Bajpatti unit.
According to Shashikant Sharma, Director of the National Planning Programme, the district is collecting 500 to 600 kilograms of plastic waste every day.
District Magistrate Richie Pandey said the initiative not only contributes to environmental conservation but also has the potential to generate employment by creating marketable products from recycled plastic waste.
The district administration plans to expand the production of recycled furniture as part of its broader effort to promote a circular economy and reduce plastic pollution across Sitamarhi.
