Paper made of shredded money

New Delhi, March 15: Shredded currency can be turned into wealth again. A handmade paper cluster will soon come up at Radaur, in Haryana’s Karnal district, where shredded currency is to be recycled into handmade paper. The RBI used to burn old and soiled currency notes under strict supervision. The 19 RBI branches in India generate as much as 10,000 tonnes of shredded currency a year.

The whole exercise used to cost a lot in terms of time and energy and had an adverse impact on the environment. Shredded currency work is not handed out to private agencies for reasons of security. Since the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a government agency, the Reserve Bank of India has given it the work of recycling shredded currency.

The handmade paper cluster project is expected to address the problem of global warming while providing eco-friendly handmade paper. It will also generate employment and income. The Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI), an autonomous body under KVIC, developed the technology to process currency waste paper briquettes into quality handmade paper. Handmade paper is eco-friendly and preferred for its wide variety.

KVIC chairperson Kumudben Joshi explained the process. “Under this programme, the shredded currency waste of the RBI will be utilised as cellulosic raw material for making handmade paper and converted products like handmade paper file-covers, file boards and carry bags. It is based on the technology developed at our subsidiary organisation, KNHPI, Jaipur,” she said.