Used tea bags and leaves are often discarded as waste, contributing to environmental pollution. Recognising this issue, Assistant Professor Arifur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) envisioned a way to repurpose tea waste and eggshells into something beneficial. He shared his idea with BUP Lecturer Golam Muktadir, and together, they conceptualised EggTeaVate, a sustainable waste management initiative.

The initiative quickly gained interest among students from BUP's Department of Environmental Science. A dedicated team, initially comprising Sadika, Taseen, Nabiha, Nusaiba, Arpita, and Fahim from the 2022 batch, took the lead in developing the project. Later, they were joined by Najla, Nashita, Arghya, Liza, and Tahiyat from the 2023 batch. Their primary goal was to create an innovative organic compost using discarded tea leaves and eggshells collected from university cafeterias.

EggTeaVate is based on the widely recognised concept of kitchen waste composting but with a unique approach. The team collected, dried, and grounded eggshells, then mixed them with used tea leaves to develop organic fertilizer at one of BUP's laboratories. Experimental results demonstrated that calcium carbonate from eggshells strengthens plant cell walls and enhances flower and fruit production. At the same time, nitrogen and tannic acid from tea leaves improve soil fertility and promote plant growth.

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EggTeaVate is not just a waste management initiative; it is a highly effective organic fertilizer supplement. The compost enhances soil aeration and water retention, essential for plant health. It also provides a chemical-free alternative to synthetic fertilizers and boosts soil fertility through beneficial microorganisms, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly solution.

By promoting zero-waste practices, EggTeaVate helps reduce landfill waste, supports a circular economy, and advocates for sustainable environmental solutions.

While EggTeaVate has shown promising results, the initiative is still in its experimental phase, utilising only a small portion of cafeteria waste. The EggTeaVate team acknowledges that while composting is not a new concept, its implementation at the university level demonstrates a practical and scalable approach to sustainable waste management.

With further development, BUP could move toward becoming a zero-waste campus, setting a benchmark for other institutions to follow.

Raiyan Bin Sarwar is a Campus Ambassador for The Daily Star From Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).