Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), in collaboration with Sangam Pratishthan, are undertaking a used PET bottle collection and recycling initiative during Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai and Thane. Running from September 16 to 25, the 10-day initiative is promoting responsible PET waste collection at four Ganpati locations: Ganesh Gully, Thane Cha Raja, Nare Park / Parel Cha Raja and Rangari.
The four locations have been selected for their significant footfall during Ganesh Chaturthi, providing an opportunity to reach a large number of devotees, visitors and local communities. The initiative aims to facilitate collection of used PET bottles at these locations, with Safai Saathis supporting on-ground collection and the collected PET subsequently handed over to recycling partners. This is helping keep PET in the recycling stream and support a cleaner festival spaces.
Devyani R L Rana, Vice President- Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, “Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav is a powerful expression of community, bringing millions of people together in celebration. At this scale, waste management is not just about keeping public spaces clean; it is about building systems that enable people, communities and partners to participate in a more responsible way. Through Maidaan Saaf, we are working with our partners to strengthen collection, segregation and recycling across these high-footfall celebrations, while making responsible waste practices more visible and accessible to communities. It is through such collective action that we can make waste management a more meaningful part of India’s largest cultural moments.”
Adding a creative and human dimension to the initiative, waste bottle caps and labels have been transformed into a ‘Waste to Wonder’ mural in collaboration with street artists Doodle Mapuls, giving discarded materials a new expression while encouraging greater collective responsibility towards waste recovery and recycling. Street plays are also being organised to encourage visitors to adopt responsible disposal practices.
The initiative reflects a shared effort by Anandana- The Coca- Cola India Foundation, HCCB, and Sangam Pratishthan to make cleanliness integrated in the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, while recognising the people who make it possible.
