Driving responsible celebrations through waste segregation, collection and recycling across Kolkata and Salt Lake.
Durga Puja brings communities together in a celebration of culture, devotion and togetherness. This year, Tandhan Group, in collaboration with the Indian Plastics Federation (IPF), is taking a step towards making these celebrations more environmentally responsible through the Zero Waste Durga Puja Initiative 2026.
The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive waste management system across seven prominent Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata and Salt Lake, focusing on waste segregation, collection, transportation and recycling.
To ensure effective on-ground implementation, 120 volunteers have been deployed across the seven participating pandals, working in six-hour shifts to provide round-the-clock coverage. Dedicated teams will monitor waste disposal, encourage segregation at source and coordinate the collection of waste throughout the festivities.
The initiative goes beyond waste collection to focus on its responsible processing and reuse. Plastic and PET waste will be recycled or upcycled into useful products, such as benches and tables, with the intention of donating them to orphanages and old-age homes. Organic waste will be directed towards composting and conversion into manure, while other recyclable materials will be channelled through appropriate recycling streams.
By bringing together organised volunteer efforts, systematic waste management and recycling, the initiative seeks to demonstrate how large-scale public celebrations can become more sustainable through collective action.
For Tandhan Group and IPF, the effort reflects a shared commitment to responsible resource management and environmental stewardship. It also reinforces a simple belief: celebrations are truly meaningful when we take responsibility for the environment around us.
Through Zero Waste Durga Puja 2026, the two organisations aim to create a replicable model that can inspire cleaner, more responsible celebrations in the years to come.