PUNE: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), SWaCH cooperative and KK Nag Pvt Ltd, have launched a sustainable thermocol (Polystyrene) recycling initiative in the city. This project was launched by Murlidhar Mohol, Mayor of Pune, on Tuesday, September 9. KK Nag Pvt Ltd, India’s largest thermocol manufacturer, in assistance with waste picker cooperative SWaCH, are implementing the project in the city. The pilot project is named ‘Recycole’.
A total of 2,100 tons of waste is generated in PMC daily, including an estimated 0.4 to 0.5 ton of thermocol waste. Thermocol is an important material for packaging and logistics for consumer goods but it has posed serious concern for solid-waste management. Garbage collection vehicles of PMC, with individual capacities of 1,500 kg, can carry only 50 kg of thermocol at time due to its high volume. To tackle this, SWaCH and KK Nag will ensure safe collection, transportation and recycling of thermocol in partnership with PMC.
This initiative will be implemented across Pune and bulk waste generators such as housing societies, commercial complexes, and showrooms have been instructed to store the waste. Citizens can contact SWaCH once enough waste is collected and the organisation will then coordinate to fast-track collection and recycling. Independent households and shops have to hand the thermocol waste generated daily to rag pickers.