Upcycling of Scraps from Technical Institutes: A Case Study—Govt. Industrial Training Institute Berhampur

Abstract

Govt. ITI Berhampur having 3600 students is one of the largest ITIs in the country. The trainees of the ITI developed this innovative method of Upcycling of scrap by managing waste beyond skill development. An integration of skilling under Skill India Mission and Swachh Bharat to make the environment clean, green and safe from the iron/aluminum/electronic/automobile scraps that are released and left out during their regular training practice creating the environment hazardous is the most desired need of the hour. Normally, in a technical training institute, the trainees go for filing/drilling turning chipping practices which generate various kinds of iron scraps. Also, electrician/electronic trainees produce scrap from PVC wire/electronic component and waste PCBs. Automobile trainees leave the discarded spare parts from two wheelers and four wheeler scrap. Around 1000 kg of scrap is produced during the training session at Govt. ITI Berhampur in every semester. Some iron-dust mixes with the soil and is washed off in the rainwater creating water pollution and soil pollution as well. Transporting these items to the dumping grounds or the landfill areas is also not a solution as it is neither economical nor eco-friendly. However, by this innovative approach “upcycling of Scrap”, 50–60% of items can be recycled. These recycled finished products not only are the answer to the biggest challenge of scrap disposal, but they also have immense market value. Around 13,105 ITIs (both government and private) in the country generate a gigantic amount of scrap every day. To recycle these scrap items & to convert them into scrap designs, thus, giving beauty and value to the undesired products which can be placed as objects adding beauty is what the “Recycling of Scrap” aims toward. Going by the facts, it has been identified that out of the total materials used as a part of the practical training curriculum, 30% of the total materials used turns out as waste material post-production of jobs. The ITI trainees produce some beautiful “sculpture” from these scraps. By this, they enhance their learning skills like welding, painting, filling turning, welding and fitting. This helps them to enhance their skill as well as the “sculpture” developed is immense market value. It is sold like hot cake to decorate at houses by the interior decorators. This is a new era of skill development. By this, the trainees earn when they learn and helps to clean the environment.