ITC moots 'NATIONAL RECYCLING DAY' with an event involving 50,000 school children
June 26, 2010
ITC Limited in association with the Ramky Group of Hyderabad will be organizing an event on the 1st of July, 2010 at Nizam College Grounds, Basheerbagh to commemorate a 'National Recycling Day'. This unique program will be attended by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and several senior ministers from the state and union governments, who will be addressing more than 50,000 school children on the significance of Recycling and effective waste management.
The world today stands on the brink of an impending catastrophe in the form of environmental degradation. The gradual depletion of our natural resources is a global phenomenon that is threatening the planet that we all live in. With India's population growing at a rate of 2.21% per annum and total quantum of waste generation amounting to 532 million MT per annum, the situation clearly calls for some immediate remedial measures.
Recycling is clearly one of the most important and viable ways to combat the challenges of resource depletion. At least 30% of the net MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) is recyclable. Reducing inert materials, the net MSW could be 373 million MT per annum and at a conservative recovery level of 15% at all India level 56 million MT of recyclables like paper, plastics, metal, cloth, wood and glass can be recovered per annum through source segregation. Source Segregation of recyclables reduces the load on natural resources, provide cost effective raw material to industry, improve health and hygiene and provide clean and green surroundings.
As a responsible corporate entity, committed to positive environmental action, ITC's Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division, has initiated a recycling program - WOW or 'Wealth Out of Waste' - a project that aims to inculcate the habit of recycling among school children, housewives, corporate employees and the general public as well as industries and business enterprises and reduce at least 15-25% of the garbage load through source segregation.
In addition, The WOW initiative also envisions the involvement of every Indian citizen in its Recycling project and so in partnership with the Ramky Group has planned the commemoration of a specific day as National Recycling Day - an endeavour which is globally the first of its kind.
The event will be marked by enlightened discussions on the importance and value of Recycling, with the aspiration to inspire and involve the nation in a consolidated effort to preserve our precious natural resources and understand the worth of waste regeneration.
