Seventeen-year-old Delhi boy on a mission to collect empty glass bottles

At this time of the year when students are busy planning how they’ll spend their summer vacation, a 17-year-old student of The British School is approaching embassies, high commissions and hotels in the city to build a stock of empty

glass

bottles. In the past one year, Udit Singhal has researched on how

empty

glass bottles, which end up in

landfills

, are hazardous to the environment. While looking for a solution, Udit came across a technology (invented in New Zealand) that converts glass

bottles

into sand that makes for a very fine material that can be used for construction. As World Environment Day is approaching on June 5, Udit thought it’s the perfect time to introduce his project and talk about his research. He launched the project at

New Zealand

High Commission with High Commissioner Joanna Kempkers, who offered him a grant to bring the machine from New Zealand to India and take his project forward.

An interesting idea to convert glass bottles into sand
As Udit gave a demonstration of how the machine works, he explained that he got the idea last year after seeing a pile of empty champagne bottles at his home. “We had champagne bottles piling up at home. The kabadi wallahs refused to take those bottles, so I researched about where these bottles would go and found out that they will just end up in landfills and become a hazard to the environment. These bottles don’t decompose for a million years,” said Udit, a student of business management who looked up Internet to read more about the danger from glass bottles and what could be the possible solution.

“I chanced upon this technology in New Zealand. Over the two weeks I researched, I got in touch with the owners of the machine and they were more than willing to offer me a machine to bring to India and test it for the Indian market. The machine crushed glass into sand and this sand can be used for construction, it is 76% silica. I approached the New Zealand High Commissioner, who offered me a grant after hearing my pitch. I have been spreading the word and looking for takers for the project. I will be approaching hotels, embassies and collect as many empty bottles as possible. This is not just a community service project – it is my opportunity to bring a change in the carbon footprint of the world. Since most people now are switching their plastic bottles with glass, it is time they are made aware of the problems that even glass bottles can cause,” added Udit.

I was impressed by a 17-year-old’s professional approach: New Zealand High Commissioner
New Zealand High Commissioner Joanna Kempkers was impressed that a 17-year-old student could come up to her and make a presentation. “Udit was very professional when he approached us to get this machine to India. I was impressed with the fact that a 17-year-old could come and make a professional presentation to the High Commissioner. He was very professional in his approach. His project has the potential to generate income and become a social project. It is also about social welfare,” said Kempers.