Students of mass communications at North Bengal University (NBU) — the oldest and largest varsity in north Bengal, located in the northwest of Siliguri — have taken up the task to recycle plastic bottles and garbage and make eco-bricks for certain constructions.

Barun Roy, the department’s head, said a group of students of the third semester, which joined the campaign titled “Na Chhed Nature” (Don't Disturb Nature), made eco-bricks in association with Let’s Go Foundation, a Mirik-based NGO.

“A National Service Scheme unit of the varsity also took part in the campaign. They collected around 300 kilos of garbage from the campus. Those were then put in plastic bottles to make eco-bricks. The first lot of around 120 such eco-bricks were used to make a seating area in front of the mass communications department,” said Roy.

The idea, he said, is to keep the NBU campus clean and encourage students to recycle non-biodegradable plastic.

“We will make the entire fence of our department with these eco-bricks and have invited all other departments to come and learn how to make these bricks. Students of a department need to spend just an hour in a week to learn it. All the students should learn it for sustainable development of the varsity and to keep it waste-free,” Roy added.

Rakesh Sharma, a member of the NGO, said it took them two days to make 120 eco-bricks.

“These bricks can be used to make chairs, tables, and benches. Also, they can be used to build walls and other structures,” said Sharma.

Apart from making eco-bricks to encourage the recycling of plastic, the mass communications department carried out two other campaigns.

One named Ritu the Red was on menstrual hygiene.

“There will be a menstrual pad bank at the department from where female students can get free pads. Students also promote the need for hygiene during the menstrual cycle,” said a source.

The third campaign, Mind Healer, was on mental health.

“This campaign was held on Monday. Doctors from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital came and interacted with students. They shared their insights and gave suggestions on mental health, depression and psychology,” said Roy.