Converting India’s Waste to Paper
Every year much rice straw is burnt in the fields causing much pollution in Northern India. However rice straw can be put to good use for many products, one of then being paper. A preliminary estimate by this author suggests that a mix of half and half rice straw and Bagasse, the residue left after crushing sugarcane to extract juice can produce good quality paper for printing and writing as also for boxes and newspaper. For every ton of sugarcane crushed approximately 30% tonnes of wet bagasse is produced. Adding 10% cotton fiber to the mix will yield high quality printing and document paper whereas adding 10% polyester fiber could yield quality paper for carry bags that may be used to replace plastic bags in current use. Further research shall help verify or refine the recommendations of this brief note. The State and Central Government of India can aid this effort in the following ways: Providing research funding to universities and