New Delhi: ‘We hope to make our buildings plastic free by June 17. This is not a political initiative but a citizen’s initiative and everyone has to participate in it to make it successful,” said Ex-IT Minister Milind Deora as he officially launched ‘#QuitPlasticMovement’ in Mumbai on Monday with actor and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza. Through this initiative, the minister is urging people to come together and start a battle against plastic and single-use plastic by ditching the use of plastic products – plastic bags, plates, glasses, cutlery, to name a few. Under the initiative, a waste collection truck will reach out to all the 200 societies in Ward A of South Mumbai in the first phase to collect plastic waste from them. The collected plastic from the societies will then be taken to registered recyclers of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation which is also part of this campaign and has released a special toll-free number on which people can call to give their plastic waste. The ultimate goal is to make all these societies free from the use of plastics.
Sharing the glimpses of the launch event with the netizens, Minister Milind Deora said,
Thanks again @deespeak for launching #QuitPlasticMovement earlier today. By June 17th, 200 resident associations/buildings in South Mumbai will go plastic-free #BeatPlasticPollution.
Thanks again @deespeak for launching #QuitPlasticMovement earlier today. By June 17th, 200 resident associations/buildings in South Mumbai will go plastic-free #BeatPlasticPollution pic.twitter.com/UuMA8XOtnC
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) June 11, 2018
On the other hand, actor Dia Mirza gave examples of how one can lead a plastic-free life, she said,
I don’t use a plastic toothbrush, I use a bamboo one instead, I have ditched personal hygiene products that have plastic packaging. It is easy to identify single-use plastic items that one can ditch, one just needs the will to do it.
The actor further said,
We have not been responsible in the use of plastic and if we continue to use plastics the way we are now then by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. The plastic is entering our oceans, food chain, soil and even air. We all need to start taking care of the environment we live in. If each one of us today pledges to go green, it will bring in a tremendous change. As citizens, we all have to take responsibility. The change will take time, but it needs the collective effort.
Also Read: India Moving Towards Productive Environmental Consciousness, Lauds Actor Dia Mirza
Thanking the minister Milind Deora for starting the #QuitPlasticMovement, Dia Mirza added,
Thank you for doing this! Come on #Mumbai, call the toll free number to get all your single-use plastic waste collected +91 1800 22 2357 #BeatPlasticPollution #SayNoToSingleUsePlastics #QuitPlasticMovement.
Thank YOU for doing this! Come on #Mumbai, call the toll free number to get all your single use plastic waste collected +91 1800 22 2357 #BeatPlasticPollution #SayNoToSingleUsePlastics #QuitPlasticMovement https://t.co/nQKbEpWI8e
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) June 11, 2018
The #QuitPlasticMovement comes at a time when Maharashtra is prepping to implement a complete ban on single-use plastic items. It is expected that the state government’s ban will be enforced from June 23.
Also Read: Maharashtra Plastic Ban: How Has Life Changed In The State Post The Ban On Plastic
