Page 35 - Plastics News June 2021

FeAtures

Q. How is the ‘Bottles for Change’

initiative helping to resolve this
issue?

The Bottles for Change is a functional Model launched in
2017 with an aim to create awareness about the problem
of plastic pollution and to also educate citizens on the
best ways of plastic disposal. Ensuring 100% of plastic used
at home today to be recycled properly. This model is a
prototype for a large ecosystem that can be successfully
implemented across India without any hassle. This model is
easy to implement, all one has to do is clean their plastic
after use, keep them separate in bags, give these clean
plastic bags to their Cleaner who comes to the doorstep and support for educating their children through our NGO
every day. The cleaner then can call the Bottles for Change partner”, adds Ghosh.
Van or his nearest Kabadiwala, sell the clean plastic for a Bisleri has partnered with Non-Governmental
better value. The kabadiwala then sells this plastic to the Organisations in Mumbai of the likes of- Parisar Bhagini
Recycler and the chain is complete. Bottles for Change Vikas Sanstha,Parisar Sakhi Vikas Sangh, Sampurna Earth,
Model today is an enabler to Source segregation, right from Akaar Save the earth to name some.
the doorstep plastic is picked up and send for recycling
there by eliminating the dump yards. It is helping in Through Bottles for Change, Bisleri has touched over 6
moulding consumer habits. lakh individuals, 800 housing societies, 400 schools and
Q. Do you plan to initiate this program colleges, 500 hotels and restaurants, 500 corporates, 600
across the country as well? awareness sessions. This programme has also created a
channel and opportunity for plastic agents to collect used
We have initiated a multi-city awareness drive. Bisleri is but clean plastic (hard as well as soft) through various
working very closely with Mumbai Municipal Corporation, stakeholders. With the objective to collect the clean
South Delhi Municipal Corporation, East Delhi Municipal plastic for recycling, the programme also aims to drive
Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Panvel social change and help empower up the green plastic
Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation, agents.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Vasai Virar
Municipal Corporation helping in implementing the source Bisleri has carried such programs with Indian Oil, Western
segregation model. Apart from this Bottles for Change Railways, NSS Wing of Mumbai University, Bombay Stock
program has an mobile app as well that provides a hassle- Exchange, Godrej, JP Morgan, and Tata Consultancy
free option to citizens to search and approach a nearby Services amongst others. Currently in Chennai, Bisleri is
plastic agent to handover the clean and segregated plastic. working with Power Grid Corporation of India, Sundaram
Medical Foundation amongst others.
Q. What are the future plans, perhaps
another segregation plant? Bisleri is also a World Record Holder. Supporting the
Swachh Bharat mission, Bisleri initiated a plastic bottle
Yes, as you are aware Bisleri has been working passionately collection & recycling awareness drive in schools. On
towards the cause of plastic management since the last October 4th, 2015, Bisleri entered the Guinness World
four years. We plan to create a greater awareness among Records and Limca Book of Records for collecting highest
general public. Our aim is to recycle more than 10,000 MT number of PET bottles for recycling, through a school
in next few years and go beyond. We have commenced contact programme reaching out to over 2 lakh students.
various programmes and yes we plan to launch such Bisleri surpassed the earlier record by collecting 23,538.9
segregation plants in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkatta. kgs of PET bottles i.e. 1.1 million bottles!
I would like to mention Delhi is to be expected in next six
months of time if everything goes as scheduled.

35 June 2021 Plastics News