Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative

With a rapidly growing economy, accelerated development, increasing urbanization, and rising consumption of goods and services, one of the biggest challenges facing our cities today is the ever-growing volume of waste. The problem has reached a scale where it is no longer the responsibility of the administration alone—every citizen now has a role to play. Many people remain unaware of what happens to the waste once it leaves their homes. As long as it is out of sight, it is often out of mind. Yet, the environmental and public health impacts of accumulating waste affect everyone. Despite these consequences, awareness about sustainable waste management remains limited. However, meaningful change can begin with when people come together. These collective efforts can transform an entire neighbourhood. This is exactly what is happening in Pune's Ideal Colony. Pragya Sheth, a conscious citizen who began her sustainability journey by managing wet waste at home. Within a short period, all ...

Every year on 28 July, Nature Conservation Day reminds us that protecting nature begins with each one of us. Conserving the environment is not just about planting trees or protecting wildlife—it also starts with how we manage the waste we generate every day. Improper waste disposal pollutes our land, water, and air, harming the environment and affecting our health. Good waste management helps reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, and create cleaner, healthier communities. The first step towards a sustainable future begins at home, where small everyday habits can make a big difference. As individuals, we can take simple yet meaningful actions. Segregate waste into wet, dry, and hazardous categories for proper disposal and recycling. Compost kitchen waste to reduce landfill waste and create natural manure for plants. Avoid single-use plastics by carrying reusable bags, bottles, and containers. Recycle paper, glass, metal, and plastic whenever possible, and choose products with le...

अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी इनिशिएटिव्ह (एपीसीसीआय) तर्फे सुरू करण्यात आलेल्या ' माझी वारी स्वच्छ वारी ' या उपक्रमाअंतर्गत पुणे शहर ते सासवड आणि यवत या दोन्ही मार्गांवर सुमारे १४० किमी रस्ता पालखी प्रस्थानानंतर अवघ्या काही तासांतच स्वच्छ करण्यात आला. १,४०० हून अधिक स्वयंसेवक,अनेक स्वयंसेवी संस्था आणि ग्रामपंचायतींच्या सांघिक कार्यामुळे ९ जुलै ते १३ जुलै २०२६ या चार दिवसांच्या कालावधीत सुका कचरा गोळा करण्यात आला. या उपक्रमाचे हे नववे वर्ष आहे यासाठी अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी इनिशिएटिव्ह बरोबरच लोणी काळभोर, कुंजीरवाडी, सोरतापवाडी,उरुळी कांचन, वडकी,कदमवाक वस्ती, दिवे काळेवाडी, झेंडेवाडी, यवत येथील ग्रामपंचायत, तसेच सासवड व फुरसुंगी नगरपरिषद, खडकी आणि पुणे कॅन्टोन्मेंट प्रशासन आणि पुणे महानगरपालिका यांच्यासह गावांमधील स्वयंसेवक यांच्या सांघिक कार्यातून पालखीच्या मार्गांवर काही तासांतच रस्ते स्वच्छ करण्यात आले. ही स्वच्छता मोहीम दरवर्षी राबविली जाते.यामध्ये २४ स्वयंसेवी गट आणि स्वयंसेवी संस्था, कंपन्या व शाळांसह २५ संस्थांनी उत्स्फूर्त सहभाग नोंदविला. स्वयंसेवकांना सहजरित्या कचरा गोळा क...

दरवर्षी साजरा केला जाणारा आंतरराष्ट्रीय जैवविविधता दिन आपल्याला याची जाणीव करून देतो की निसर्ग हा आपल्या जीवनापासून वेगळा नाही, खरंतरं तो आपल्या अस्तित्वासाठी सर्वांत महत्त्वाचा घटक आहे. स्वच्छ हवा, शुद्ध पाणी, सुपीक माती, जंगल, नद्या, पक्षी, कीटक आणि वन्यजीव हे सर्व मिळून मानवाच्या जीवनाला आधार देणारे संतुलित वातावरण निर्माण करतात. मात्र वाढते प्रदूषण आणि अयोग्य कचरा व्यवस्थापनामुळे ही जैवविविधता गंभीररित्या धोक्यात आली आहे.   पर्यावरणाच्या हानीस कारणीभूत ठरणाऱ्या प्रमुख घटकांपैकी एक म्हणजे वाढणारा कचरा. रस्ते, टेकड्या आणि नदी काठावर फेकला जाणारा प्लास्टिक कचरा अखेरीस जलाशय आणि नैसर्गिक अधिवासांमध्ये पोहोचतो, ज्यामुळे प्राणी, पक्षी आणि जलचर जीवांना मोठा धोका निर्माण होतो. कचरा जाळणे किंवा रस्त्यावर टाकणे यामुळे माती आणि हवेचे प्रदूषण वाढते. ज्यामुळे शहरे आणि गावे या दोन्ही परिसंस्थेवर विपरीत परिणाम होतो. यातील सकारात्मक बाब म्हणजे जैवविविधतेचे संरक्षण करण्याची सुरूवात आपल्या स्वतःच्या घरापासून सुरू होऊ शकते. ओला आणि सुका कचरा वेगळा करणे, स्वयंपाकघरातील कचऱ...

Every year, International Biodiversity Day reminds us that nature is not separate from our lives — it is the foundation of our survival. Clean air, fresh water, fertile soil, forests, rivers, birds, insects, and wildlife together create the balance that supports human life. However, increasing pollution and poor waste disposal are putting this biodiversity under serious threat. One of the biggest contributors to environmental damage is unmanaged waste. Plastic waste thrown on roads, hills, and riverbanks eventually reaches water bodies and natural habitats, harming animals, birds, and aquatic life. Waste burning and dumping also pollute the soil and air, affecting ecosystems across cities and villages alike. The good news is that protecting biodiversity can begin from our own homes. Simple habits such as segregating wet and dry waste, composting kitchen waste, reducing single-use plastic, and recycling responsibly can make a significant difference. Waste management is not...

टेकडीवरील जैवविविधतेचे संवर्धन करण्याच्या आवडीतून इकोफोर्सचे संस्थापक ओजस पाठक या तरूणाने आपली स्वच्छतेच्या कार्याची वाटचाल सुरू केली. कचऱ्याच्या वाढत्या समस्येचे निराकरण केल्याशिवाय खरे संवर्धन अशक्य आहे,हे त्याला जाणवले. नैसर्गिक ठिकाणी सतत जमा होणारा कचरा ही एक अत्यंत गंभीर चिंतेची बाब बनली आहे. या समस्येसाठी केवळ विचार व दृष्टीकोन नव्हे तर प्रत्यक्ष कृती आवश्यक होती. डिसेंबर 2024 मध्ये त्याने याबाबत स्वतंत्र अभ्यासाला सुरूवात केली.पुढील 13 महिन्यांत त्याने पर्यावरणीय समस्यांबरोबरच कचरा व्यवस्थापनामागील अर्थकारण आणि मानसशास्त्र यांचा सखोल अभ्यास केला. फक्त स्वच्छता मोहिमांपुरता मर्यादित दृष्टीकोन न ठेवता कचरा वर्गीकरण,पुनर्वापर आणि शाश्वत प्रणाली बाबत अभ्यास केला. यामुळे स्वयंसेवी संस्थेची अधिकृत नोंदणी करण्यापासून ते प्रत्यक्ष पातळीवर संरचित उपाययोजना राबवण्यापर्यंतचा एक स्पष्ट आणि कृतीयोग्य आराखडा तयार झाला. त्याचा हाच दृष्टीकोन अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी इनिशिएटिव्ह (एपीसीसीआय) तर्फे आयोजित क्लीन सिटी टॉक्सच्या 13 व्या सत्रात इतर उपस्थित तरुण स्वयंसेवकांच्या तोंडून ऐकायला मिळाला.या ...

For Ojhas Pathak, Founder of Ecoforce, the journey began with a deep passion for conserving biodiversity on hills. However, he soon realised that true conservation is impossible without addressing the growing problem of waste. The constant littering on natural landscapes became a pressing concern—one that demanded action, not just intent. In December 2024, he embarked on an independent research journey. Over the next thirteen months, he explored not just environmental concerns, but also the economics and psychology behind waste management. His approach went beyond clean-up drives to include segregation, recycling, and building a sustainable system. The outcome was a clear, actionable roadmap—from formally registering an NGO to implementing structured on-ground solutions. This spirit of purpose-driven action resonated strongly at the Clean City Talks organised by the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI). The 13th session brought together four youth-led organisati...

World Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22 April and   reinforces a powerful global message—our everyday choices shape the future of our planet.The Earth Day 2026 theme is "Our Power, Our Planet," which emphasizes accelerating the global transition to renewable energy and leveraging collective grassroots action for environmental protection Among the most pressing environmental challenges today is poor waste management. Overflowing landfills, plastic pollution, and untreated waste are contaminating soil, water, and air, directly impacting ecosystems and human health. When waste is not properly handled, it releases harmful greenhouse gases and toxins, accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss. However, meaningful change begins at an individual level. One of the simplest yet most effective steps is waste segregation at source. By separating waste into dry (recyclables like paper, plastic, metal), wet (biodegradable waste like food scraps), and sanitary ...

A strong induction program plays a vital role in shaping young minds by helping students understand real-world challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities beyond the classroom. It is during these early interactions that students begin to connect academic learning with social responsibility and civic awareness.       As part of this vision, Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI) recently participated in the student induction program at Keystone School of Engineering on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. Malhar Karwande, COO, APCCI, interacted with students on the theme “Urban India: Cleaner, Greener and Healthier.” He emphasized the vital role that citizens and institutions play in effective waste management and in building clean, sustainable cities.       Including waste management in induction programs is important because it creates early awareness about environmental responsibility. It encourages students to think beyond textbooks and un...

APCCI had an opportunity to host three changemakers- Prof. Jayant Mahajan, Pradeep Kumar, and Priya Kumari who told about their remarkable journeys and the road ahead at the ‘Clean City Talks’. The  session was seventh in the series organised by Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI). which aims to explore different aspects of leadership and what we all can learn to make our city better and more liveable. Mr.Krishnan Komandur, CEO APCCI, Mr. Malhar Karwande, COO APCCI, Mr. Aashish Marathe General Manager, APCCI and Mr.Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer APCCI were present on the occasion.   Prof. Jayant Mahajan, a management professor, is currently on sabbatical and cycling across India’s borders and remote regions to raise awareness about environmental sustainability. Meanwhile, Pradeep Kumar and Priya Kumari are scaling mountains to advocate for reducing  plastic waste and improving menstrual hygiene. All three are part of Change before Climate Change...