Bottles for Change’conducted
an event on 21st June 2019 at
Trident, Mumbai, to announce the excellent work done under this initiative. The
programme aims to educate citizens about the importance of recycling plastic in
our lives; bringing about a habit change of not putting plastic in waste, but cleaning
it, segregating it and sending it directly for recycling. The event was
attended by prominent personalities, Ramesh
Chauhan (Chairman – Bisleri
International), Anjana Ghosh (Director
Marketing and OSR- Bisleri International),Vijay Merchant(Member of Governing
Council, ICPE), Aditya Dalmia (Owner-
Dalmia Polypro Industries).
While the whole of India and the world is
struggling to solve the problem of managing Plastic waste, there are massive
projects being undertaken to clean the rivers and seas of plastic litter.
Bottles for Change brings in a revolutionary perspective to the whole Plastic
menace, IT SAYS STOP TREATING PLASTIC AS WASTE AS IT HAS VALUE EVEN AFTER
USE. If plastic is cursed for being Non-Biodegradable, then Plastic’s
biggest Virtue is that it is recyclable several times. If we have to tackle the
problem of the Environment then engaging every citizen and creating awareness
about the correct ways to dispose Plastic is a Must.
The Bottles for Change
program has created a complete value chain. Plastic is picked up right from the
doorstep of a citizen& sent to the Recycler without involving any Waste
Bins or Dump yards. THE KEY MESSAGE IS TO CLEAN PLASTIC BEFORE DISPOSING AS
CLEAN PLASTIC CAN DIRECTLY GO FOR RECYCLING.
The event began with a welcome speech, felicitation of guests and an introduction of the
initiative by presentation of the report card of all the work done in the
Past One year, a run-through of the film on “Bottles for Change”and testimonials in form of ‘Model Society’. It was followed by a panel discussion on the future plans for the
initiative.
The team also launched
a Bottles for Change‘Mobile App’which aims to bring the citizens of Mumbai and the
Plastic Collecting Agents (Kabadiwallahs/NGOs) under one roof. The app provides
a hassle-free option to the citizens to search &approach a nearby plastic
agent to handover the clean plastic. The plastic agents will in turn sell the
used clean plastic to the recyclers who will make products from the same. Bottles
for Change has been receiving a tremendous response from the citizens and as a gesture of contributing to society, the team
will be placing 25 BENCHES MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC at prominent areas of
Mumbai. Every bench requires around 50 kgs of used plastic
to make it. The event concluded by a thank you speech from the spokesperson of
Bottles for Change.
Since its inception, ‘Bottles for Change’
programme has conducted over 200 plastic recycling awareness and collection
drives and workshops in corporate offices, housing societies, schools, colleges
and other institutions, malls, festive & social gatherings, events, etc. With over, 4,800 Tonnes Of Plastic recycled
by Bisleri, ‘Bottles For Change’ Programme has reached out and successfully Engaged 15,00,000 Citizens, 600 Housing Societies, 150 Corporates, 400 Hotels And Restaurants, 200 Schools: 3,00,000 Number Of Students who have
actively supported and joined the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion,Ms.
Anjana Ghosh, Director,Bisleri said,“The problem is not that of plastic, the
problem is of the irresponsible human behavior and their absolute lack of
knowledge about Plastic. The Plastic Pollution problem can be easily tackled,
it only requires a determined effort by every citizen and law makers of India. We
are glad to announce the progress made by the programme in one year itself. We
have successfully achieved our aim to engage a large number of stakeholders in
Mumbai, introduce recycled benches as a testimonial that plastic is recyclable, and
also a mobile app that is sure to help in spreading the awareness about plastic
recycling. Our further plan includes reaching out to additional cities of
India, aiming to bring about such habit change and introducing more such
platforms for the citizens contributing to a cleaner environment”.
‘Bottles For Change’ Programme is all set to
work towards changing the habit of communities in valuing plastic as an
effective resource as plastic is recyclable. It also aims to create awareness
for a positive response from individuals with changed mindset(s) about plastic,
recycling of plastic items and best practices towards a cleaner environment.
