Statewide ‘Maha R-PET Bottles and Stickers’ Campaign Launched from Thane
Thane, October 2, 2026: Maintaining environmental balance and curbing the growing impact of plastic have become urgent priorities, making collective action essential to address global warming. Although plastic is highly durable, its adverse effects on the environment are severe. Against this backdrop, an important plastic recycling initiative is being launched with the support of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), without any expenditure from the state government. Maharashtra will become the first state in the country to implement the ‘Maha R-PET’ campaign across 13 locations, State Environment Minister Pankaja Munde said.
Munde was speaking at the launch and unveiling of the ‘Maha R-PET Bottles and Stickers’ initiative, organised jointly by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, the Maharashtra government, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Thane Municipal Corporation at Hotel Vivanta in Thane.
Those present included Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Rahul Rekhawar; Coca-Cola Cluster Head K.K. Joseph; Chief Public Affairs Officer Himanshu Priyadarshi; noted film personalities Prasad Oak, Dino Joseph, Shivani Surve and Amit Rayon; and several prominent individuals and citizens from different fields.
Addressing the gathering, Environment Minister Munde said the Environment Department had been conducting awareness campaigns through photographs, videos and social media. However, she emphasised that duties and rights were two sides of the same coin.
“Simply cleaning the mirror is not enough; the stains must also be removed. Every individual should actively participate in this campaign under the slogan ‘One Bottle for the Environment’,” she said, urging citizens to take responsibility for protecting the environment.
MLA Madhavi Naik, who attended the programme, welcomed the initiative and noted that the state's first project of this kind was being launched in Thane. She assured that elected representatives and citizens would extend their full cooperation. She also stressed the need for society to come forward to reduce plastic use and put environmental protection on the right path.
MLA Niranjan Davkhare said the Maha R-PET campaign, initiated by the Environment Department and the state government, would expand across Maharashtra. He called on companies to take the initiative by extending the campaign through their branches and contributing to efforts to reduce pollution.
Additional District Collector Harishchandra Patil expressed satisfaction over Thane district being selected for the initiative. He said the district had a significant responsibility in ensuring the campaign’s success and assured that the administration would provide all possible support to maximise public participation.
Explaining the background of the initiative, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Rahul Rekhawar said the board had been consistently working to reduce environmental stress. The first step towards this initiative was taken in Mumbai in February 2026.
He said detailed planning would help extend the programme to citizens at the grassroots level and encourage a reduction in plastic use. Rekhawar added that the state was committed to following the principles of Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) and working towards the goal of carbon neutrality by 2047.
