Thane: Citizen participation is essential for reducing plastic pollution and promoting recycling, Environment Minister Pankaja Munde said while launching the state-level ‘Maha R-PET Bottle and Stickers’ campaign in Thane.

Speaking at the launch event held at Hotel Vivanta, Munde said environmental protection and controlling the growing impact of plastic had become an urgent necessity. The initiative will be implemented at 13 locations across Maharashtra with the support of NGOs, without any financial expenditure by the government.

“Mere awareness through photographs, videos and social media is not enough. Rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. We must not merely wipe the mirror, but remove the stain. Everyone should actively participate in this campaign with the message ‘One Bottle for the Environment’,” Munde said.

The initiative has been jointly undertaken by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, the Maharashtra government, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Thane Municipal Corporation.

MLA Madhavi Naik welcomed the initiative and said the first project of its kind in the state was being launched from Thane. She called for collective efforts to reduce plastic use and protect the environment.

MLA Niranjan Davkhare said the campaign would be expanded across Maharashtra and urged companies to extend their initiatives to reduce pollution.

Additional District Collector Harishchandra Patil said the district administration would provide full support to ensure maximum public participation.

MPCB Member Secretary Rahul Rekhawar said the board had initiated the programme in Mumbai in February 2026. He said efforts would focus on taking plastic recycling to the grassroots and reducing plastic use. He added that Maharashtra was committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2047 through the LiFE approach.