In most cities, waste is a problem waiting to be dumped. But in parts of Tamil Nadu, it’s become the starting point for innovation.

From turning old newspapers into handcrafted art to powering streetlights with leftover food, a handful of NGOs are showing how discarded materials can spark livelihoods, creativity, and change. Whether it’s cracker boxes after a festival or plastic tapes no one wants, these organisations are giving waste a second life — and communities a fresh purpose.

Here’s how they’re making it happen.

1. WELLPaper (Auroville)

What they do: WELLPaper (where WELL stands for Women Empowerment through Local Livelihood) trains local women to

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