Pune Teen Turns Construction Waste into Hope, Creates Over 1,200 Upcycled Products Through ‘TrashForm’
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Kondhwa, 15th July 2026 : While most people see discarded cement and gypsum bags as waste, a Pune teenager saw an opportunity to protect the environment and help communities. Sixteen-year-old Angad Singh, a Grade XI student at Delhi Public School (DPS), Pune, has launched “TrashForm,” an initiative that transforms construction waste and old clothes into reusable products.
A resident of NIBM Road, Kondhwa, Angad started the initiative with a simple yet powerful mission—to prevent useful materials from ending up in landfills and give them a second life.
The idea took shape during visits to construction sites with his father. Witnessing large numbers of cement and gypsum bags being discarded after use prompted him to think of a sustainable alternative.
“I realised that these bags had no value once they were used and would eventually become landfill waste. I wanted to prove that what people call trash can be transformed into something useful. That’s how the idea of TrashForm was born,” Angad said.
The initiative involves collecting discarded cement and gypsum bags from construction sites. The bags are thoroughly cleaned, washed, redesigned and stitched into practical products such as reusable shopping bags, pouches and tiffin bags. Old clothes are also repurposed as part of the upcycling process.
Since its launch, TrashForm has created and distributed more than 1,200 upcycled products to construction workers, school students, security guards and residents of nearby slum communities. The initiative aims to reduce waste while providing durable, reusable products to people who need them.
Angad hopes the project will inspire more young people to embrace sustainable living and recognise the potential of upcycling.
“My goal is not only to reduce waste but also to spread awareness that materials often considered useless can be transformed into something valuable. I want to continue creating more products and contribute, even in a small way, to protecting our environment,” he said.
His mother, Jyotsna Singh, expressed pride in her son’s commitment to environmental conservation.
“As a mother, watching Angad turn a simple observation into a meaningful environmental initiative has been incredibly inspiring. He has shown that age is no barrier to creating positive change. We hope his journey encourages more young people to think creatively about sustainability and take responsibility for protecting our planet,” she said.
TrashForm stands as an example of how innovation, compassion and environmental responsibility can come together to address the growing challenge of waste management. Through his initiative, Angad is proving that meaningful change can begin with a single idea and the determination to act on it.
