‘Punch the Plastic’ campaign was launched by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, on the occasion of World Sustainability Day, observed on October 26, 2022.
This special campaign was launched on October 25, 2022 in the gracious presence of Shanti Sheela Nair, retired IAS officer, Ligy Philip, professor, dean (planning), Nilesh J. Vasa, professor, dean (students) and Indumathi Nambi, professor, faculty advisor, Sustainable Campus Collective, IIT Madras, faculty and students.
The objective of the campaign is to deploy a new method to collect clean and dry plastic packaging for recycling options such as pyrolysis. As a part of the campaign students, faculty members and staff at IIT Madras have formed a ‘Sustainable Campus Collective’, According to an official statement. The drive further aims to raise awareness among the campus residents on waste segregation, minimising water and energy usage.
On the launch, Indumathi Nambi said, “We believe that every individual in IIT Madras community should contribute their bit and strengthen the administration’s efforts towards making the campus the best in the country in terms of practising sustainability.”
the sustainability drive aims at making IIT Madras a truly sustainable campus in three aspects – zero waste campus, low carbon and low water footprint, she added.
She further added, “The drive takes into its fold hostels, academic zones, residential zones, places of worship, shops and schools. It encourages all students, staff, faculty, residents, school kids, and supporting contract workers to voluntarily participate and make it successful.”
Further, Ligy Philip elaborated on the institute’s initiatives in Wastewater recycling and a proposed bio-methnation plant for food waste.
Along with Punch the Plastic Drive, two other major drives were launched, Monkey Proof Food Waste Dustbin Hackathon, and Sustainability Champions Contest.
