Pune: Mega Waste Collection Drive Held At 300 Locations In CityÂ
Pune, 21 October 2024Pune continues its journey towards a cleaner and more sustainable future with the resounding success of the Mega E-Waste, Plastic, and Thermocol Collection Drive organized on 20th October, marking World E-Waste Day. Spearheaded by Janwani, in collaboration with various civic organizations including the Cummins India Foundation, KPIT Technologies, Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI), Rotary Club, Mahalaxmi Recyclers, K K Nag Pvt Ltd and others, this year’s event witnessed overwhelming participation from citizens across the city.Â
The formal inauguration of the event took place at Chittaranjan Vatika, Model Colony, at 10:00 AM, graced by dignitaries including Mr. Prithviraj P. B. (Additional Commissioner, PMC), Mr. Mukesh Oswal (Leadership Cummins India Ltd.), Mr. Tushar Juvekar (CSR Head, KPIT), Mr. Manoj Mehata (MD Mahalaxmi Recyclers), Rotarian Surender Gupta (Project Director District 3131) and Mr. Ramesh Pandya (Director, Janwani), among others.
Anchored by Mangesh Kshirsagar, Deputy Director of Janwani, the event was a collective effort by more than 25 organizations and hundreds of housing societies, making it a true citizen-led initiative.In his speech, Mr. Prithviraj P. B. highlighted the importance of reducing overall waste generation and urged citizens to adopt minimalistic lifestyles. He emphasized that while improved e-waste collection systems are crucial, a greater focus must be placed on reducing consumption and managing waste sustainably. Mr. Mukesh Oswal of Cummins India Foundation shared insights into their decade-long journey in e-waste collection, starting from 450 kg annually to reaching an impressive 100 tons this year. Cummins Project Sponsor Mr Milind Mehetre and Project Leader Sampat Khaire were also present during the event. Mr. Manoj Mehta from Mahalaxmi Recyclers spoke about the environmental impact of recycling, explaining that recycling 1 kg of e-waste saves 3 tons of soil from excavation. The Rotary Club, represented by Mr. Surender Gupta, reaffirmed its commitment to spreading awareness through its vast network. He also launched a new initiative to distribute cloth bags to e-waste donors, promoting eco-friendly practices. All the participating NGOs and Colleges were working tirelessly for over a month to spread awareness, make logistics arrangements for this Mega Drive. By late evening 16 tons of e-waste, 7 tons of plastic, and 200 kg of thermocol was collected and counting was ongoing. Repairable items like computers and laptops will be refurbished and donated to underprivileged students, adding a social dimension to the environmental benefits of the event. The event concluded on a high note, with a collective resolve to continue working towards a greener Pune, reducing waste at the source, and fostering sustainable living practices among citizens. This drive, with the involvement of educational institutions and NGOs, reaffirms Pune’s role as a model city for responsible waste management in India.