Maharashtra and Coca-Cola Expand PET Recycling Initiative in Thane

The Government of Maharashtra, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) have expanded the Maha r-PET Abhiyaan in Thane. The initiative includes the inauguration of the Thane PET Collection Centre and several efforts to improve the collection, segregation, and recycling of used PET bottles across the city.

The new Thane PET Collection Centre will serve as a central facility for aggregating and collecting used PET bottles. The program also introduced dedicated collection bins, the Maha r-PET Abhiyaan Participation Certificate, and the Green Cool Dukaan Sticker for retailers. Three electric vehicles were flagged off to support collection operations, and benches made from recycled PET plastic were unveiled to demonstrate the circular economy in action.

Smt. Pankaja Munde, Hon'ble Minister for Animal Husbandry, Environment & Climate Change, Government of Maharashtra, emphasized the shift from a 'use and throw' culture to 'use and collect.' She highlighted that the initiative will expand to other districts, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, and Beed. Avinash Kant Kumar, Head of Integrated Supply Chain at HCCB, noted the importance of collaboration across the value chain to build a robust recycling ecosystem.

The Maha r-PET Abhiyaan aims to improve the recovery and recycling of used PET bottles through awareness, source segregation, community participation, and dedicated collection infrastructure. The initiative seeks to reduce landfill burden and support circular economy objectives by ensuring used PET bottles are collected separately and remain suitable for recycling.