* MCC launches ‘Bottles for Change’ workshop-cum-exhibition to promote sustainability and waste management*
*Chandigarh December 5:-* Aiming to educate young individuals on the importance of managing used plastic efficiently, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has organized an informative workshop and exhibition “Bottles for Change” in collaboration with Bisleri International.
Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, MC, Chandigarh inaugurated the workshop in the presence of Sh. Ram Chandra Yadav, area councillor, Mr. K. Ganesh, Senior General Manager of Bisleri, Mrs. Varinder Kaur, Principal, teachers and school children.
While speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner said that the MCC has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainability and waste management with the launch of the “Bottles for Change” program. She said that the programme, which includes an informative workshop and exhibition, aims to educate individuals on the importance of managing used plastic efficiently.
She commended the government school students of GMHS RC-1, GMHS RC-2, and Primary School, Dhanas, as well as the participating NGOs, for their highly informative exhibition on waste management, water purification, and recycling. Taking a personal interest, the Commissioner visited each stall at the exhibition, which showcased sustainability projects constructed using waste materials. She interacted with the children, lauded their efforts, and provided valuable guidance for further improvement.
The exhibited educational models served as excellent examples of the reduce, reuse, and recycle (RRR) concept. The students demonstrated their creativity by utilizing discarded materials such as waste paper, used plastic bottles, cardboard, clothes, wool, old newspapers, toys, coconut shells, ice cream sticks, and various others. Notably, the exhibition also featured a range of items manufactured from plastic waste, including planters, tiles, T-shirts, tiffin box covers, coasters, and more.
The dedicated Bottles for Change Stall by the students highlighted numerous exhibits:
1. Creative utilization of used PET bottles for the creation of fabrics, shirts, T-shirts, soft toy stuffing, pillows, and more.
2. HDPE recycling into granules for the production of pens, cups, organizers, and stationery items.
3. LDPE transformation into granules to create pots, buckets, boards, toys, and various other products.
4. Sterile and sorted medical waste repurposed into pellets, bricks, and other useful materials.
5. MLP (Multi-Layer Plastic) processed into sheets for the construction of school furniture, dustbins, boards, stands, and more.
6. Mixed low-value plastic to be processed for agricultural pipes.
The Commissioner inspired the school students to initiate positive change within society by emphasizing the significance of source segregation and proper disposal of all types of used plastic into designated bins. She shared her personal experience of using cloth bags instead of plastic bags and encouraged young minds to follow suit.
In further support of the cause, the Commissioner inaugurated the installation of used plastic collection bins in all three schools – GMHS RC-1, GMHS RC-2, and Primary School, Dhanas. These bins will facilitate the collection of used plastics to be sent for recycling. She called upon the area councillor and Principal of Dhanas School to collaborate with Bisleri in their joint efforts to eliminate plastic littering in Dhanas and ensure that all used plastic is properly recycled.
