Mrs India 2017 finalist #Kalpana_Thakur is recycling hotel disposable waste and reusing it in making paper baskets, lamps, flowers pots, bird feeding stations and even jewellery.
The 43-year-old, a hotelier based in this Himachal Pradesh picturesque tourist resort, told: "This initiative, though small, is proving to be a grand success and helps motivating my guests to learn the art of reuse the household waste sensibly and too in a greener way."
This art of recycling, she said, is in fact giving a big boost to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Campaign and will work wonders to save the environment for the future generations.
Thakur, who spent her initial years in a remote village in Lahaul Valley in Lahaul-Spiti district, said earlier she was known as a "waste warrior" in Manali as she used to collect plastic waste, tetra packs and tins dumped haphazardly in the markets and tourist spots.
"Initially, I used to collect them and dump them appropriately. Later, I started using them in making decoration pieces. I learnt this art of reuse via videos on YouTube," said Thakur, who has a passion for fitness even after marriage.