Plastic pollution has become one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. Tiny plastic particles called microplastics have been found in rivers, oceans, soil, food and even drinking water. Scientists are searching for affordable ways to remove these pollutants, and now three Indian teenagers have come up with an innovative solution that is gaining international attention. Three 16-year-old students, Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal and Avyana Mehta, have won the Asia regional title of The Earth Prize 2026 for creating a biodegradable solution called Plas-Stick, designed to remove microplastics from water. Their invention uses powdered tamarind seeds to help tackle a growing environmental problem.
Plastic Pollution: How Plas-Stick removes microplastics from water
The students developed Plas-Stick to create a simple and affordable way to clean polluted water. Instead of relying on expensive filtration systems, their method uses waste tamarind seeds and a magnetic process to remove tiny plastic particles.
How the process worksWhat are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, usually smaller than 5 millimetres, that come from broken-down plastic waste, synthetic clothing and other products. They can enter rivers, lakes and oceans and are difficult to remove once they spread through the environment.
- Step 1: Tamarind seeds are collected and turned into a fine biodegradable powder.
- Step 2: The powder is added to water containing microplastics.
- Step 3: The powder helps the tiny plastic particles stick together and form larger clumps.
- Step 4: These clumps become easier to separate from the water.
- Step 5: A handheld magnet is then used to remove the clumped particles.
- Step 6: Cleaner water is left behind without the need for electricity or costly machinery.
One of the biggest advantages of Plas-Stick is that it can work in villages and low-resource communities where advanced water-treatment systems may not be available. The students worked with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) to develop and test the project. Their innovative idea won the Asia regional title of The Earth Prize 2026 and earned them $12,500 in funding to further improve the technology and raise awareness about plastic pollution.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, usually smaller than 5 millimetres, that come from broken-down plastic waste, synthetic clothing and other products. They can enter rivers, lakes and oceans and are difficult to remove once they spread through the environment.
What is The Earth Prize 2026?
The Earth Prize is one of the world’s largest environmental sustainability competitions for students aged 13 to 19. It encourages young people to create innovative solutions to environmental problems such as climate change, pollution, waste, biodiversity loss, and clean water challenges.
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