KATHMANDU: Every day, ordinary households discard countless plastic milk packets as waste, unaware that these same plastics can be transformed into beautiful, useful items.

Among the few who recognized this potential is 65-year-old Urmila Paneru from Kalanki, who has been creatively repurposing discarded plastics into handicrafts for the past 16 years.

Urmila’s journey began in 2066 BS when she attended a ward-level handicraft training program.

Since then, she has continuously honed her skills, turning what most consider non-biodegradable waste into new, functional products.

Over the years, she has not only produced a variety of innovative items but also trained numerous others in different locations, spreading awareness about sustainable craft practices.

Her achievements, however, were not without challenges. Lacking family support, she persevered through societal pressures and domestic responsibilities.

From her kitchen, she collects discarded milk packets, cleans and processes them into threads, which she then uses to make a range of items including handbags, shoes, mats, nets, door mats, kitchen tools, keychains, socks, pouches, and storage boxes for toothbrushes and spoons, among other decorative pieces.

Urmila’s dedication, patience, and continuous skill development have not only resulted in sustainable products but have also inspired countless women to pursue self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

Photos:

-Saroj Basnet