In a world where waste continues to grow and natural resources are under strain, even the smallest efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle can spark meaningful change. Kandivali's Recycling Group's, Used Paper Bags Project is one such effort, a 100% volunteer-led initiative that aims to spread awareness on our responsibility towards environment as well as inclusion.
The project accepts used paper bags from homes, schools, colleges, and offices, giving them a second life. After careful sorting, the bags are donated to organizations that support persons with disabilities (PWDs). These organizations reuse the bags in various ways:
- for packaging handcrafted products, creative upcycling projects, or
- resale, helping generate income and skill-building opportunities for their members.
June 2025 Highlights: 600 Bags, 4 Partners, and Growing
We’re happy to share that in June 2025, around 600 used paper bags were donated to four inspiring organizations:
• MESH (Delhi)
• NAB Home for the Blind (Khandala)
• Snehalaya (Thane)
• Metro Manila PWD Vendor Association, Inc. (Philippines)
The infographic below offers a complete snapshot of the program, showcasing our progress and highlighting how these small, cumulative efforts are also contributing to tree conservation.
We are also thrilled to welcome Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. as our newest partner! With this, the initiative now proudly collaborates with 33 organizations, including five in the Philippines.
Why It Matters
This project is about more than just reusing paper bags. It’s about fostering awareness, encouraging individual responsibility, and creating opportunities for those often left out of traditional systems. It shows that inclusion and sustainability go hand in hand, and that when people come together, even humble materials like paper bags can become powerful tools for change.
Looking Ahead
As the project continues to grow, we hope to inspire more communities to contribute, more organizations to collaborate, and more individuals to ask themselves:
“How can I make a difference with what I already have?”
Because small actions, done with heart and purpose, can indeed build a better, kinder world.