Recycling of tickets can save many trees

While many of us are busy crumpling our bus tickets and throwing them away without giving any thought to the environment, one man gives the environment its due share of concern.

NS Ramakanth, a member of Solid Waste Round Table has come out with a new project. He has collected 100 cans and will be placing them in BMTC bus stands where people can throw their tickets.

“Initially I placed a few of them in Shivajinagar. But people began to spit into them and wash their hands in them. I have now decided to talk to BMTC officials and then put up 100 bins where tickets can be thrown,” he said.

So what does Ramakanth do with these tickets? “We will then send them along with paper to manufacture fresh tickets. Making paper is a very expensive endeavour. It takes many trees to make one kilo of paper. So, if we can reuse the paper in the tickets and passes, it would benefit the environment,” he said.

There are over 18 bus stands in the city and Ramakanth will be placing five bins in each of the stands. “Along with this, we will also place spittoons where we can spit or wash hands. They will contain some sand and bleaching powder so that infection does not spread,” he explained.

Soon, Ramakanth plans to talk to BMTC officials to get help and cooperation. “We hope to get some good response from them,” he said.