Swap plastic for saplings in city on July 4, 5
To nudge citizens towards sustainable waste management and eco-conscious living, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), in collaboration with the forest department, is set to launch a unique 'green booth' initiative in the state capital this Friday and Saturday.
During the two-day drive, residents can bring plastic waste — from PET bottles to polythene bags — and exchange it for a sapling of their choice. The initiative will coincide with Vanmahotsava, India's annual tree-planting festival that is celebrated in the first week of July to promote afforestation.
'We want the public involved with Vanmahotsava celebrations and we also want to incentivise people by urging them to bring plastic to us in exchange for a sapling,' a forest official said.
Green booths will operate at select locations across Panaji in two shifts — from 10am to 1pm and again from 4pm to 7pm. Volunteers will monitor simple wooden desks made from sustainable materials to reinforce the message of minimising plastic use.
For every quantity of recyclable plastic brought in, each participant will receive one sapling from a variety of native trees, medicinal herbs, and fruit-bearing plants, encouraging them not only to dispose of waste responsibly but also to contribute to the city's green cover.
'When giving away the saplings, we will explain to people about the native plants and trees of Goa,' said Rohitesh Sutar, vice-president of the Rotaract Club of Panaji, which has partnered with the CCP and the forest department for the initiative.
The project has also roped in a popular supermarket that will set up a booth at its Porvorim outlet on July 4 to extend the reach of the initiative beyond the limits of Panaji city. All the collected plastic waste will be routed to the CCP's segregation centre for recycling.
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