What if trash could be transformed into something more than just waste? What if plastic, one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges, could be the key to creating jobs, changing lives, and even sparking an economic revolution in a small village in Nepal?

For Puja Dallakoti these weren’t just questions—they were the start of a movement. In a community where plastic waste seemed to drown the rivers and litter the streets, Puja saw untapped potential—a chance to create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and most importantly, protect the environment. Through her venture, Puja Rupantaran Samagri Collection and Suppliers, she is not just tackling plastic pollution in Gajuri—she is reimagining how a community can come together to solve its plastic waste problem.

Her journey began with a transformative workshop focused on plastic pollution and effective advocacy. Trained through Project CAP, Puja and her fellow youth learned about the devastating realities of plastic waste and developed action plans to address it. Armed with new insights and financial support, they launched initiatives to combat pollution, including impactful river cleanup drives in hotspot areas. “We can’t just stand by while our rivers drown in trash,” Puja proclaimed, rallying her neighbors to take action. But she didn’t stop there. Puja saw not only a growing environmental issue but a business opportunity—whereas others might have seen only a problem.

Through her initiative, Puja forged partnerships with local hotels that had been unknowingly contributing to the plastic pollution problem by burning PET bottles due to improper disposal methods. Recognizing this gap, Puja offered a sustainable solution: she would buy PET bottles from their waste and sell them to recycling centers. In doing so, she not only helped hotels adopt more sustainable disposal practices but also created a steady income stream for her own business—turning what was once trash into profit. Since starting her enterprise, Puja has already collected more than 8,000 bottles, which have been sent for recycling, helping divert plastic waste from landfills and rivers.

Puja’s work has expanded beyond the collection of bottles. She is building a growing network of local vendors and young people, all united in the mission to reduce waste and create a cleaner, greener future. Through her leadership, Puja is showing her community that entrepreneurship doesn’t just solve environmental problems—it can unlock new economic opportunities, creating jobs and a sustainable economy in the process.

“This is just the beginning,” Puja says with conviction. With every bottle collected and every mind changed, she is proving that one person’s determination can spark a movement—a movement that will not only protect Nepal’s rivers and landscapes but transform them into symbols of possibility.