Tetra Pak initiative gains momentum in Mumbai
Waste Management is a pressing problem faced by the metropolis today. Tetra Pak, the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company, inaugurating its new is working closely with customers and suppliers to provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 170 countries. With more than 24,000 employees around the world, and a motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™,” reflects its vision in the recycled classroom desks it has been providing to the needy.
The recycling initiative of Tetra Pak is an eight-year-old programme, spread across Mumbai. Till date, over 26 lakh cartons have been collected. It recently launched 175th used carton collection centre at ALM 116 Park, Bandra.”
Through the recycling initiative, Tetra Pak collects an average of 4.5 lakh cartons every year. So far, over 250 desks have been distributed to lesser privileged schools in Mumbai. Apart from school desks, Tetra Pak cartons are also recycled into notebooks, garden benches and Poly Al products planters, and roofing sheets. So far, over 20,000 notebooks have also been made and provided to lesser privileged children.
With the aim of adding 25 more collection centres, taking the total number of such centers in Mumbai to 200, the initiative’s core objective is that every used Tetra Pak carton be recycled into useful items.
To make this possible through this citizens’ movement – Cartons Le Aao Classroom Banao – Mumbaikars can now head over to a number of collection centres across the city to deposit their used Tetra Pak cartons.
The collection centre has specially designed bins made out of recycled cartons where the people can deposit used cartons. While some of these collection centers can be easily accessed by the public, others are in locations such as schools, residential societies and offices which have restricted access.
Tetra Pak is also running a comprehensive digital and onground campaign to raise awareness about the initiative and inspire Mumbaikars.
Inaugurating the new collection center, Asif Zakharia, Corporator of H West Ward, Bandra said, “Right from waste generators to waste managers, everybody has to take the responsibility for waste management. Through the Cartons Le Aao, Classroom Banao initiative we hope to bring in an impactful change. Each of us individually, are taking responsible measures to spread the awareness and catalyse the carton collection drive. We are encouraging all members and neighbouring societies to deposit used cartons at the ALM 116 Park.”
Jaideep Gokhale, Communications Director, Tetra Pak South Asia said, “When we started the recycling program more than a decade ago, together with Sahakari Bhandar, Reliance Fresh and RUR Greenlife, we had not envisaged the support that we would receive from the Mumbaikars. What we need now is to raise more awareness among Mumbaikars about the initiative, for which we have launched a comprehensive digital and onground campaign – Cartons Le Aao, Classroom Banao – to inspire more citizens to do their bit.”
Today, Mumbaikars have access to 45 Sahakari Bhandar, Reliance Fresh, Reliance Smart stores and other Public Access Points that they can deposit used cartons at. Additionally, there are 130 Private Access Points like RWAs and schools that collect thousands of cartons every year. Details of the access points can be found here: www.cartonsleaao.com.
Damodar Mall, CEO Reliance Retail, said, “The problem of waste management is massive, and it will take every citizen to do their bit to solve the problem. As a retail organization with presence across the city, we will continue to do everything we can to facilitate this change and make sure that our shoppers adopt recycling as a way of life.”
“We continue to receive queries from citizens across Mumbai, especially young students wanting to know how they can join the recycling program and adopt better waste management practices, and this truly inspires us to keep moving forward. Over the years, thousands of Mumbaikars have become part of this movement and made a meaningful difference to the environment and to the lives of lesser privileged children. I can only imagine the possibilities if all of Mumbai were to join the program,” adds Monisha Narke, Founder of RUR.
