Nagpur is on the brink of a transformative journey with the launch of Nagpur@2025, a visionary initiative driven by the Vidarbha Economic Development Council, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and Nagpur City Police. This collaborative project, bound by a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is set to address key urban challenges including waste management, traffic congestion, public sanitation, lake rejuvenation, and heritage site conservation. But more than that, Nagpur@2025 is about uniting citizens, NGOs, administrators, and corporations to foster a collective sense of pride and ownership for the city.
One of the initiative’s most innovative and impactful projects targets a particularly alarming issue: the disposal of single-use plastic (SUP). Nagpur, like many other urban centers, is grappling with the mounting problem of plastic waste. SUP often finds its way into landfills, clogs drain pipes, and pollutes water bodies, causing long-term damage to the environment. With a shortage of recycling facilities in the city, the need for a sustainable solution has never been more urgent.
The solution? Eco-bricks.
Eco-bricks are an innovative approach developed by the Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi organization. These bricks are created by tightly packing clean, dry, non-biodegradable plastic waste into plastic bottles. This process not only diverts plastic from landfills and waterways but also prevents it from being burned, thus reducing pollution. Eco-bricks serve as valuable building materials, offering a practical use for what would otherwise be harmful waste.
Since the launch of Nagpur@2025, the eco-brick initiative has gained impressive traction. Starting in the 2023 academic year, NMC schools and other educational institutions have been actively involved in spreading awareness about eco-bricks and encouraging their production. The program has even extended to Zilla Parishad-managed schools, broadening its impact.
The results are promising. In the first phase, 756 students from classes 5th, 6th, and 7th across 10 schools participated in making 3,581 eco-bricks. These bricks have already been used in an educational installation at NMC Nullah in Civil Lines, demonstrating their practical applications in creating tree guards, benches, and tables.
For the 2024-25 academic session, Nagpur@2025 plans to expand its reach, aiming to engage even more schools in the eco-brick movement. Volunteers, guided by environmental advocates like Aarti Deshpande (Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi), Ashish Deshpande (Saving Dreamz Foundation), Nisha Thakur (CMCA/Chitnavis Trust), Naresh Baldwa (Rotary Club of Nagpur Ishanya), and Suraj Shrivastav (Nagpur Ploggers), will lead this effort, educating students and communities on sustainable waste management.
Nagpur@2025 invites individuals, NGOs, and schools to join the cause. Creating just one eco-brick—a 1-liter bottle filled with SUP—can save approximately 100 square feet of land from plastic contamination. To get involved, contact Nagpur@2025 via WhatsApp at 8380002025. By participating, you’re contributing to a cleaner, greener Nagpur and a legacy of environmental stewardship.