Coca-Cola and Doko Recyclers Place PET Collection Bins across Kathmandu
"A joint initiative by Coca-Cola and Doko Recyclers to raise awareness and encourage people to consciously dispose of PET bottles for recycling as a part of its “Refresh and Recycle” Campaign"
On the occasion of World Recycling Day,18th March, Coca-Cola Nepal and Doko Recyclers announced the placement of 10 informative PET Collection Bins across the Kathmandu Valley, an initiative that commenced in August 2020 with the support of local authorities.
The “Refresh & Recycle” initiative is a PET bottle collection campaign that aims to raise awareness and educate communities about giving new life to PET bottles through a recycling process.
The bins were placed in populous areas where PET bottles are frequently disposed including Soyambhunath Stupa, Bouddha Stupa, Patan Hospital, Patan Dhoka, Patan Durbar Square, Tribhuvan University, and the Lalitpur Municipality Public Park.
Abilal Shah, Proctor, Tribhuvan University shared, “Students, professors, and administrative staff have reacted positively to the bins placed at Tribhuvan University.
The bin placed at Tribhuvan University is used frequently and is convenient for both students and visitors.
We look forward to other collaborations in the future.”
Through this initiative, consumers are encouraged to discard their PET bottles after usage in the PET collection bins whenever they are in any of these locations.
It is also important for consumers to ensure that the bottles are empty, clean, and preferably crushed before disposal.
More information on the proper steps of disposal and the recycling process of PET bottles have also been displayed on the bins for public awareness.
Discarded PET bottles have inherent value and cannot be categorized as waste.
PET plastic is safe, lightweight, economical, transparent, shapeable and 100% recyclable.
“We want to provide the public infrastructure to recycle and educate themselves on the benefits of recycling.
For us at Doko Recyclers, waste management and sustainability are achieved by creating truly viable, post-disposable, sustainable and circular design solutions”,
says Raghavendra Mahto, Co-founder of Doko Recyclers.
Pradip Pandey, Managing Director of Bottlers Nepal Limited shared, “We take our role as an environmental steward seriously for which we are committed to finding new and improved ways to recover and recycle PET bottles in Nepal. We highly appreciate the local government’s support and partnership in this important effort.’’
The bottles from the bins are collected by Doko Recyclers every week, sorted and then delivered to a PET recovery facility to begin the recycling process.
PET materials can be recycled and manufactured into new bottles, containers and are even used for fiber applications such as clothes and carpets.
Since its placements, Doko Recyclers have collected and recovered approximately 2000 PET bottles so far.
In 2018, Coca-Cola globally announced "World Without Waste", with an aim of collecting and recycling the equivalent of all bottles and cans that it produces by 2030.
In support to its global vision, Coca-Cola Nepal has taken upon many recycling initiatives in order to achieve the World Without Waste objectives in the coming decade through its several projects namely Nagarmitra, Recycler Saathi and now Refresh and Recycle.
Raj Kapali
