More than 100kg of used crayons collected from kindergartens across the kingdom are set to be repurposed into brand-new sets for the upcoming academic year, under an initiative led by a Bahraini environmental advocate aimed at reducing waste.
Nasra Buashwan, 34, is now appealing for volunteers and corporate partners to support her self-funded project by hosting collection boxes at their premises, enabling members of the public to donate used crayons from their homes.
She told the GDN the initiative was inspired by her discovery of the significant contribution discarded crayons make to landfill waste, as they are made from petroleum-based paraffin wax that does not biodegrade and can remain in landfills for decades.
An estimated 60 million crayons – weighing more than 226,000kg – are thrown away annually in the US alone, largely by restaurants and schools.
In response, Ms Buashwan developed a circular system to collect, sanitise and remould used crayons, transforming potential pollution into practical educational tools.
“This initiative not only diverts hundreds of kilograms of waste from the environment, but also engages the community – particularly schools and families – in a tangible movement towards sustainability and conscious consumption,” she said.
The Riffa-based mum-of-one initially contacted several schools across Bahrain to request old donations of used crayons.
“Not many got back to me,” she said, adding that interest grew significantly after she began posting the initiative on TikTok, with many schools later reaching out for collections.
Participating schools include Konooz Nursery (6.9 kg), Alanjal Kindergarten (2.25kg), Ibn Khuldoon National School (16.5 kg), AlQalam Kindergarten (22kg), Noor Knowledge Kindergarten (3.8kg), Al Bashaer Kindergarten (6.23kg), Al Eman Girls School (2.5kg), Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (27.9kg), Modern Knowledge Schools (5kg) and Quest School (3.77).
The collected crayons are cleaned, sorted by colour, melted down and remoulded into new pieces.
She said she learned the process through a previous charitable candle-making initiative, during which she produced handmade candles and donated the proceeds to charity.
“The aim is to grow the project into a sustainable business, offering a locally-made alternative to mass-produced crayons sold by large international brands,” she explained.
“For each school that purchases the crayons, they will be provided with a free recycling workshop, where students and staff learn how to create the products themselves, helping to further spread environmental awareness.”
Looking ahead, she plans to partner with organisations across Bahrain to instal collection bins where the public can donate used crayons. The institution that recycles the highest volume is rewarded with a ‘big crayon’ in recognition of its contribution.
“If you are reading this and are a company that is willing to place a recycling box at your centre, please reach out to get involved,” she said.
So far, one organisation in Malkiya has joined the initiative, and she is working to expand it across all four governorates. The collection boxes will be available from May until the end of August, after which they will be removed for processing.
Ms Buashwan’s passion for the environment began in childhood and has since developed into a zero-waste lifestyle. She launched her Instagram platform in 2017 and now uses it – with more than 25,000 followers – to encourage people in Bahrain to adopt more sustainable habits and take a more active role in building healthier communities.
Over the years, she has shared practical tips on reducing consumption and conserving resources. “People should start choosing hygiene products that produce less waste,” she said in one of her posts, pointing to solid shampoo, soap and deodorant bars, as well as refillable alternatives.
She also encouraged the use of natural or biodegradable materials such as bamboo or plant-based alternatives, which replace single-use plastics with durable, compostable or recyclable products, reducing landfill waste and micro-plastic pollution.
For more information about the initiative, follow her account @zerowastebahrainiyah on Instagream.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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