Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative

World Environmental Health Day – 26 September 2025 Caring for the Environment is Caring for Ourselves Increasing consumption, increasing waste, lack of awareness about proper segregation and disposal, resultant pollution in water, land and air is how we can describe today’s times for the Environment. The health of our environment is a matter of deep concern and cannot be delinked from our own health. Infact  the World Environmental Health Day on 26 September  is a reminder that our health is deeply tied to the health of our planet. Improper waste management is one of the biggest threats for the environment today. Pilling up landfills, burning waste, plastic choking rivers and oceans, the environment is getting degraded at alarming levels and pace.  The result is contaminated soil, polluted water , harmful gases, breeding ground for diseases, all of this affects human health significantly. Take the case and example of plastic which takes hundreds of years to decompo...

World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th every year to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage global action to protect the planet. It serves as a reminder for us to reflect on our relationship with the environment and take steps towards sustainable living. One crucial aspect of environmental conservation is waste management. Proper waste management plays a significant role in preserving the environment, and its importance cannot be overstated.   In an era of rapid industrialization and urbanization, waste management has become a pressing concern. The improper disposal of waste can lead to pollution of land, water bodies, and air, resulting in severe consequences for the environment.   Cleanliness is closely linked to waste management and plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment. When waste is not managed efficiently, it accumulates in public spaces, pollutes the surroundings, and poses a threat to both humans and wildlife...

  एकीकडे हवामान बदलाचे भयानक स्वरूप आपण अनुभवत असताना त्याला कारणीभूत असणाऱ्या प्रमुख घटकांपैकी एक असलेल्या कचऱ्याबाबत आपण अजूनही उदासीन आहोत.  आपण कधी विचार केला आहे की कचरा एकदा आपल्या घरातून निघून गेला की त्याचे काय होते? तो गूढपणे अदृश्य होत नाही. आपल्या घरातला कचरा आपल्या नजरेसमोरून गेला की आपली जबाबदारी संपली असा आपला समज झाला आहे.  त्या कचऱ्याचे पुढे काय होते, कचऱ्याची विल्हेवाट कशी लावली जाते, त्यावर कोणत्या प्रक्रिया केल्या जातात याबद्दल फारसे काही माहित नसते.काही सामाजिक संस्था, स्वयंसेवक,विद्यार्थी कचऱ्याच्या समस्या हाताळण्यासाठी व कचऱ्याबाबतची जागरूकता वाढविण्याचे प्रयत्न करत आहेत. तरी देखील वैयक्तिक स्तरावर प्रत्येकाने हे जाणून घेणे गरजेचे आहे की आपल्या घरातून बाहेर पडलेल्या कचऱ्याचे पुढे काय होते.   पूर्वी आपण बाजारातून वस्तू आणण्यासाठी कापडी पिशवीचा वापर करायचो,त्यामुळे कचऱ्याची समस्या ही मर्यादित असायची. सध्याच्या बदललेल्या जीवनशैलीनुसार आपण थेट बाजारात न जाता ऑनलाइन खरेदी करतो. त्यामध्ये वस्तूपेक्षा जास्त हे त्याचे प्लास्टिकचे वेष्टन अस...

As the effects of climate change begin to show in every place on earth, affecting every person on this planet in some form or other, urgent and transformative changes were never so important before.  Accelerating human activities, rising temperatures, rising greenhouse gas emissions, rising consumptions, everything is amplifying at a much faster rate than anticipated. Extreme weathers, temperatures, cyclones, tsunamis are disrupting our lives like never before and threatening our very existence. The world finally under the leadership of UN has made progress in defining a path towards ‘Net Zero’ and environment friendly and climate resilient development. And there is hope as a lot of youngsters across are keen to lead this transformation. Today’s world is witnessing the largest connected young generation in our living history. With curiosity, critical and out of the box thinking, ready to work on a bigger scale, they are able to come out with solutions for global probl...

WORLD SOIL DAY- 5 December Saving the magical earth beneath us   Human health and human survival depend on the food we eat. The quality of the food depends on the fertility of the soil.  It is one of the most important and essential natural resources we have. Soil pollution affects fertility and jeopardizes food security. The presence of toxic substances causes soil pollution. Some of the contaminants occur naturally, but most of it is a result of human activities. The way we manage our waste, be it solid, wet or e-waste directly affects the environment and the earth beneath. World Soil Day is celebrated every year on  5 th December to highlight the importance of soil health and it’s role in a sustainable future. Waste management and soil are two interrelated subjects that have a significant impact on our environment. For years we have been indifferent towards this core issue. Soil is the very foundation of food generation, it provides clean water and is crucial t...

In recent times, marathons have emerged as a popular avenue for advocating fitness and a health-conscious lifestyle. The sheer diversity of participants, spanning various societal segments, injects excitement into these events. Witnessing people engage in such large numbers instils a sense of teamwork and accomplishment, which can be truly inspiring and profoundly impactful on individuals. Moreover, many marathons transcend mere physical and mental benefits, providing a platform to spotlight charitable causes and social initiatives. In essence, marathons are evolving into significant contributors to community well-being. Pune, in particular, is witnessing a surge in marathon popularity, with events ranging from small to large, including walkathons, taking place almost every week in support of noble causes. However, the substantial influx of participants also translates to a considerable environmental footprint, primarily in terms of waste generation. Items such as drinking water bo...

  Hon.Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi called upon the people to participate in cleanliness drive on October 1 across the country. Adar Poonawalla Clean City ( APCCI) actively participated in the mega cleanliness drive across various locations in Pune.   Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS)  campaign was celebrated from 15 th  September to 2 nd  October this year with a theme of ‘Garbage Free India’. The focus was on cleanliness especially at high footfall public places like bus stands, railway stations, cantonment boards, beaches, tourist places, zoos, national parks & sanctuaries, historical monuments, heritage sites, river fronts, ghats, drains and nallahs etc. in both rural & urban areas. In Pune citizens from various walks of life joined in the mega event with an hour long ‘Shramdan’ in run up to the’ Swacch Bharat Diwas’ on 2 October 2023 and a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. The program was conducted under the aegis of the ...

Officers and Staff members of  Central GST and Customs office, Pune Zone and officials from Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI) came together for a seminar on sustainability . The program was a part of the ‘Swacchata Pakhwada initiative’ started in April 2016 with the objective of bringing a fortnight of intense focus on the issues and practices of Swachhata by engaging GOI Ministries/Departments in their jurisdictions. Mr. Krishnan Komandur, CEO APCCI was invited as Chief Guest for the seminar. Mr. Shivkumar Popat Salunkhe, Joint Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Audit-I Commissionerate Pune , Atul Gaikwad, Superintendent along with officers and staff members were present on the occasion. Mr. Komandur gave  a presentation on APCCI activities and sustainable lifestyle followed by engaging discussion with the staff members of GST office. The gathering discussed on various ways that organizations can collaborate for cleanliness and volunteering. P...

Around 20-25 volunteers from about 13 NGOs and organizations gathered at the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI)  office in Pune on Saturday 9 September 2023 . The NGOs were felicitated for participating in the mega initiative ‘Don Tass Ek Swachh Prayas’ which was organized to mark Independence Day. This was the second consecutive session where APCCI felicitated various organizations and volunteers for their continuous efforts towards making the city clean. The program included  presentation of various collaborative initiatives by APCCI, and  information on Don Tass Ek Swachh Prayas’ started by Wing Commander ( Retd) Puneet Sharma after which volunteers shared their on field experiences .  Various volunteers opined that we must take the ownership of the place where we live, we must be the change if we want to change things around us. This was the continuation of the first  program which was organised on 2 September 23 . The organization...

Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative ( APCCI ) recently felicitated various NGOs , organizations and volunteers for their participation in the mega initiative  ‘Don Taas Ek Swachh Pune Prayas’ organised to celebrate Independence Day. The initiative involved cleaning drives at over 100 places in the city , awareness and plantation drives .    Volunteering is a noble act of giving back to the community. People from diverse backgrounds come together for a common cause. It is this team spirit that strengthens the bond with the community and engages people in societal causes . It is this spirit that deserve s appreciation . Recognizing the importance of volunteering for a better planet and future , APCCI has started an initiative to felicitate and encourage young volunteers , organizations who are doing a selfless act of cleanliness drives to ensure a better and healthier tomorrow .    In the first program organised on 2 September 23 , various org...

Cleanliness drives at more than 100 locations in the city, massive plantation drive with 1000+ saplings, river cleanup drive , chronic spots cleanup,  regular cleanup on weekends at more than fifty spots, mega drive at Samvidhan Chowk, awareness sessions in schools was a perfect way to salute our great country and celebrate Independence Day. More than 100+ NGO,communities and volunteer groups teamed up for multiple drives on weekend leading upto Independence Day. The Initiative was a part of a mega drive conducted by ‘Swachh Pune Swachh  Bharat’s Don Taas , Ek Swach Pune Prayas’ , an initiative started by Wing Commander Puneet Sharma. The annual drive emphasizes common citizens to make their city a livable one by enjoying freedom from litter and pollution. This year too it carried the message under the central theme of ‘SWAG’ – ‘S’ stands for Swachhta under which cleanliness drives are organized. ‘W’- stands for Waste and E-Waste Collection. ‘A’- stands for awar...

Pune is blessed with surrounding hills, beautiful hill stations, forts and lakes . Nature has been truly kind to us with great climate and beautiful spaces in and around Pune. While there is a lot of awareness on keeping these places clean, we often forget the beautiful roads leading to these places. These are the roads which lead us to these beautiful places and give us memories of life. In past few years, rapid industrial growth has resulted in the city growing in population as well as size. The townships and residences are not restricted to the city itself, but there is a lot of development happening in the fringe areas, outskirts and even around Pune. No doubt, development brings prosperity but it also brings with it a lot of challenges. And one of the major challenges is waste management. These very roads leading to outskirts  which were once like a beautiful necklace decorating the city, are now witnessing dumping of litter on a large scale . A lot of people tr...

Source segregation may sound a simple process to many, but it is way more important than we think. We are living in times where the use of the natural resources has risen substantially, consumption has increased multifold but recycling and reuse which are key to circular economy have not progressed with equivalent speed. The reason is lack of awareness. Increased consumption, increasing trash without source segregation has resulted in overburdened landfills. Such a scenario has ecological, social and economic ramifications.  While we embark on a journey of circular economy where whatever we consume is reused and recycled, it needs a more structured and multipronged approach. Policy framework, roadmap, and technological innovations will all happen at a macro level. This is important, but what’s needed the most is citizen’s awareness and engagement. As India progresses rapidly and the per capita income rises, so will the consumption. Whether it is increasing consumption...

After a successful pilot project in the year 22-23 across various campuses, the Green Campus program has entered into the next phase bringing more enthusiasm amongst management, faculty and students for sustainability and green practices in their institutions. A Green Campus summit was organized at Symbiosis College, Viman Nagar recently to present the work done at various campuses so far and the way ahead. Aditya Pundir -  Director India and South Asia for The Climate Reality Project India, Dr Erach Bharucha -  Director  Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environmental Education and Research ( BVIEER), Shivam Singh -  Founder ExploreiT and National Coordinator for Youth, Climate Reality Project-India and Sathya Natarajan -  Lead Volunteer Adar Poonawalla Clean City .  (APCCI)  were present on the occasion. Representatives from various stakeholders and campuses including Symbiosis Viman Nagar, Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU),  SCMS, SIMS, SIT, ...

Keeping the city clean is not a piece of cake. A lot of hard work and consistency is needed to keep the environment clean. Having the help of various machines to do this is a cherry on the cake. Machines save our time, they make cleaning efficient and ease up the job a little.   Machines are a great help to man but they can’t be used until the men are skilled. Machines like the Glutton Vacuum Litter Picker , Trilo, Hyva, Tipper help to keep the city clean with smooth handling by their operators. They even help with transportation and storage of the waste collected. Water ATMs providing free water, pothole repairing machines , street sweepers are all great examples of man & machines working together. Using these machines helps to clean many kilometres of areas and help the people in need, which would be impossible with using only manpower.   Eliminating chronic spots, managing the waste, making the city green is all done by man & machines together, making it a super j...

When it comes to environment and citizens engagement, Pune is the bright spot. Highlighting this on the backdrop of ‘ World Environment Day ’ as it reflects the tryst of Punekars for protecting the environment. Irrespective of whether they are natives to the city, or have come here for work and settled, their choices, hteir background, one thing is common, the diverse topography including the hills, surrounding lakes, forts, rivers keeps the citizens tied together. As an environment enthusiast and somebody who has been volunteering for over a decade, I am witness to the enthusiasm which Punekars have when it comes to protecting the environment. Volunteering is not the only way of Punekars for environment. It is not about carrying out an initiative for a day and go back. People have the passion, they will find time and they will ask the right questions, what is Individual Social Responsibility, what is Corporate Social Responsibility and what is the responsibility of the admi...

  Climate Reality Project ( India )  along with Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI)  is working with campuses in Pune   to convert them into green campuses. This result oriented impact driven program enables schools and colleges to conserve natural resources like water and biodiversity, optimize energy efficiency, manage waste and provide clean air etc . These are the five parameters on which the program is based with a definite methodology.   This is a student driven program, where the youth take responsibility for their campuses under the guidance of their educators and management. With their support, the students are able to come out with solutions which can easily be  implemented. The program starts with a basic orientation and continues with training programs aimed to create awareness on climate change, sustainable development and build capacity inside the campus by training facul...

  There are different consumption patterns when it comes to food, apparels, different things they use in their day to day lifestyle and these are discarded at some point of time as waste. On home front this waste whether dry or wet can be managed, but what about common or community spaces? These are the places where there is a lot of public movement and large people gather and therefore individual behaviour and responsibility becomes all the more important. Some of the community spaces where people gather in large numbers are the different heritage spots like forts, or leisure tourist places like beaches, public parks etc.  Here we most likely see more litter. Although we can advocate and spread awareness, one just cannot keep fighting a lonely battle. There is a new trend coming up called   waste negative event . It is a very simple and common sensical approach.   What is a waste neutral approach? Whenever we go to these community or public places or go for picnics ...