Marking Global Recycling Day, a Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) was inaugurated at Ektanagar in Mapusa, in a significant step towards strengthening sustainable waste management practices in the city.
The initiative, implemented under the Plastics Lighthouse Project, aims to improve waste segregation, enhance recycling systems, and promote circular economy practices in Mapusa.
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The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Joshua D’Souza, MLA of the Mapusa constituency and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. Priya Mishal, Chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council, along with representatives from regulatory bodies and partner organisations, were also present.
Other dignitaries included Mohan Girep from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, Dheeraj Chodankar from the Goa Waste Management Corporation, local councillor Prakash Khorjuvekar, and Nutan Bicholkar.
Municipal engineering officials, including Augustin Mesquita, Vishant Naik, Sangeeta Satardekar, and Simran Bepari, were also present at the event.
Representatives from partner organisations such as Mondelez India, Responsible Earth Foundation, and Anubhuti Welfare Foundation attended the inauguration along with other team members.
Speakers at the event highlighted that the DWCC will serve as a dedicated facility for the collection and segregation of dry waste, including plastics, paper, glass, and metals. The centre is expected to play a key role in diverting recyclable materials from landfills and channeling them into appropriate recycling streams.
The facility will also support waste collectors by providing a structured and safer working environment, thereby improving efficiency and working conditions.
During the programme, representatives stressed the importance of citizen participation in waste segregation at source and called for responsible consumption and community involvement to build cleaner and more sustainable cities.
Following the inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees were given a walkthrough of the facility to understand its operations, including segregation processes and the recycling value chain.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of the Mapusa Municipal Council, regulatory authorities, partner organisations, waste collectors, and local residents.
The new DWCC marks a significant step towards achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Mapusa, reinforcing the message of collective responsibility in waste management.
