Indian School Accepts Plastic Waste as Tuition Fees

In a village in Assam, India, a remarkable school has found a way to solve two problems at once. Akshar Foundation school doesn't charge money for tuition — instead, each student brings 20 pieces of plastic waste per week.

Founded by Parmita Sarma and Mazin Mukhtar, the school now educates 110 students from poor families who couldn't afford traditional schooling. The collected plastic is recycled into eco-bricks for construction and bags sold to generate income for the school.

“Akshar Foundation school doesn't charge money for tuition — instead, each student brings 20 pieces of plastic waste per week.”

"We wanted to make education accessible while teaching environmental responsibility," says Sarma. Students learn to see waste as a resource, and the surrounding village has become significantly cleaner. The model has inspired similar schools across India, with over 100 plastic-for-education schools now operating nationwide.