Guwahati, Aug 21: What if the plastic water bottle you just threw away could be turned into something useful within minutes? That’s exactly what a team of researchers at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) is making possible.

The team from USTM has come up with an innovation that could make recycling plastic easier for everyone—from hospitals to homes. A team of faculty and students has built a Portable Plastic Recycler, a small machine that melts discarded items like food containers and water bottles and turns them into usable products.

The project is led by faculty members Dr. Sony Kumari, Dr. Tamanna Bhuyan, and Dr. Madhusmita Borthakur, with students Sresth Ramchiary and Shakil Haque. According to the team, the device works by heating plastic at around 70–80°C inside a specially designed heat-resistant vessel. In about 15 to 20 minutes, the plastic breaks down and can be moulded into something new. The product has already got a patent from the Government of India.

Unlike conventional recycling units that require large plants and heavy investment, this machine is compact, affordable, and user-friendly. “It’s designed so that even small institutions—like pharmacies, labs, or schools—can use it to manage their own plastic waste,” said one of the student innovators.

The team gave the prototype a public test on Independence Day this year. Using waste plastic, they made tricolour badges and distributed them among faculty and students during the celebrations. They also crafted wall hangings and even a model of the traditional Assamese Japi, showing that recycled material can be turned into decorative and culturally significant objects.

The idea drew appreciation on campus, not just for its creativity but also for its practicality. With plastic waste piling up in landfills and rivers, the possibility of a small, portable recycler struck a chord with many.

The researchers now plan to take the prototype to workshops and exhibitions, hoping to draw interest from both institutions and individuals. If the technology can be scaled, they believe it could help reduce plastic waste while also opening up opportunities for small businesses to create useful products from discarded materials.

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