ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 (APP):The Collect and Recycle (CoRe) Alliance, in collaboration with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), on Wednesday handed over 5,000 reusable tote bags to promote alternatives to single-use plastics and raise public awareness about environmental protection. The initiative is part of the Alliance's public awareness campaign under the Islamabad Capital Territory Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, aimed at encouraging responsible consumption and reducing plastic waste. Speaking at …
CoRe Alliance hands over 5,000 reusable bags to Pak-EPA to promote plastic-free Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 (APP):The Collect and Recycle (CoRe) Alliance, in collaboration with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), on Wednesday handed over 5,000 reusable tote bags to promote alternatives to single-use plastics and raise public awareness about environmental protection.
The initiative is part of the Alliance’s public awareness campaign under the Islamabad Capital Territory Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, aimed at encouraging responsible consumption and reducing plastic waste.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director Pak-EPA Dr Mohsina Zubair highlighted the challenges in implementing the regulations, particularly the limited availability of commercially viable alternatives to commonly used plastic packaging.
She emphasised the need to strengthen recycling infrastructure and urged industry stakeholders to establish formal plastic waste collection and recycling centres in Islamabad to support effective waste management.
Spokesperson Pak-EPA Dr Zaigham Abbas said collaborative efforts were under way to expand plastic waste collection and recycling initiatives from major cities to smaller urban centres and tourist destinations.
He highlighted the potential of recycling PET bottles into staple fibre for domestic use and exports, and stressed the importance of establishing collection facilities in educational institutions, business centres and tourist destinations.
He also called for exploring innovative solutions, including reverse vending machines, to improve plastic collection, and sensitising the masses.
Chief Executive Officer of the CoRe Alliance Sheikh Waqar Ahmad highlighted the alliance’s efforts to promote a circular economy and strengthen recycling practices through collaboration among industry, civil society and other stakeholders.
He said the alliance had contributed to developing standards for recycled plastic packaging and submitted a white paper proposing a nationwide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to promote uniform recycling practices across the provinces.
He said the alliance had also conducted public awareness campaigns through billboards at nine locations in Islamabad, social media initiatives and an SMS campaign that reached more than 2.5 million Jazz subscribers.
The 5,000 reusable tote bags, carrying environmental awareness messages and QR codes linking to Pak-EPA’s plastic regulations portal, will be distributed among citizens to encourage the adoption of reusable alternatives.
The CoRe Alliance is a multi-stakeholder platform comprising leading consumer goods manufacturers, packaging companies, recyclers, non-governmental organisations and development partners working to promote a circular economy and address packaging waste.
The initiative supports Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13, 14 and 17, focusing on responsible consumption and production, climate action, protection of aquatic ecosystems and partnerships for sustainable development.
