Navi Mumbai: In a major step toward achieving a plastic-free Navi Mumbai, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has launched a comprehensive campaign in collaboration with leading non-profit organisation ‘Project Mumbai’.
Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, the civic body has started the initiative by eliminating single-use plastic from its own offices, including the NMMC headquarters.
The campaign, titled ‘Navi Mumbai Plastic and E-Waste Recyclothon’, aims to significantly reduce plastic waste and promote recycling across the city. The initiative is in line with this year’s global theme for World Environment Day – ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ – and seeks to drive citizen engagement, awareness, and long-term behavioural change.
To give the movement momentum, NMMC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Project Mumbai. The initiative will cover housing societies, residential colonies, corporate groups, and educational institutions, encouraging them to segregate and recycle plastic and e-waste. In the first phase, over 250 societies are expected to participate, involving more than 2 lakh citizens.
“As part of the project, collected plastic will be reused to create everyday items like benches, walking tracks, utensil sets, and pencil boxes. These will be installed in public parks and other community areas in accordance with the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ (3R) principles. Every city node will also designate ‘Green Champions’ to lead and sustain local environmental efforts,” said a NMMC officer.
In a unique artistic addition to the campaign, students from Children’s Academy in Malad, guided by Project Mumbai’s CEO Shishir Joshi and his team, have created a massive sculpture from recycled plastic. This installation will be showcased at the NMMC headquarters and later moved to a prominent city park.
Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde said the initiative reflects NMMC’s commitment to creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable city. “We want Navi Mumbai to be recognised not only as a clean and beautiful city but also as a plastic-free model for the rest of the country,” he said.
He urged every citizen to actively contribute by reducing plastic use, recycling waste, and supporting the city’s zero-waste goals. “With eco-conscious citizens and proactive partnerships like that with Project Mumbai, we are confident of transforming Navi Mumbai into a model plastic-free city,” he added.
