Chinchwad School Goes Plastic-Free

(TNN, Nov 10, 2010)
PUNE: The New English School in Chinchwadgaon is going plastic-free with the management and students taking initiatives not to use plastic on the school premises.
The Paryavaran Sanvardhan Samiti, an NGO, took up the initiative to promote use of eco-friendly products. Vikas Patil, president of the samiti, said that this was the first school in Pimpri-Chinchwad that has decided to go plastic-free.
The campaign, no plastic thrown’, was started a couple of months ago. The students do not bring any eatables wrapped in plastic, nor do they use plastic carry bags, Patil said.
According to Patil, the idea was to create awareness about the ill-effects of plastic through lectures and presentations in the school. In turn, the students create awareness at home.
“Initially, there were lectures about solid waste management, water treatment plant, cleaning of rivers, among others. After seeing a keen interest, we decided to start the campaign no plastic thrown’,” he said.
This Diwali, the students were asked not to burst firecrackers leading to noise pollution.
As the next step, the samiti plans to start vermicomposting, water recycling, reuse of notebook and paper, and reuse of chalk powder in the school. The campaign will be extended to other schools also.