A year-long volunteer program has been launched to beat plastic pollution at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali and beaches of Mumbai by leading beverage firm Coca-Cola India.

Coca Cola India and AIESEC have teamed up with Afroz Shah-led 'Date With Ocean Foundation’ for this program, an official statement said.

The yearlong volunteer program involves awareness creation, waste segregation, waste management program that will impact more than 15,000 people in 43 padas around Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and beaches in Mumbai.

Launching the project, Afroz Shah led 500 school children, AIESEC volunteers, Coca-Cola employees, citizen groups and key stakeholders in a beach clean drive at Versova beach.

Commenting on the volunteer program, Afroz Shah, said, “Waste management is a global environmental concern. To see a real change at the ground level, a collaborative and consistent effort is required to clear the waste out of our environment sustainably.

As part of this program, every week Afroz Shah along with volunteers will do their bit by:

• Cleaning Danapaani beach, Versova Beach, SGNP Forest and River Mithi.
• Train people living in the human-ocean conflict zone and on the banks of River Mithi to get Circular economy in their lives
• Train people living in the human-animal conflict zone at Sanjay Gandhi national park, Borivali to get Circular economy in their lives
• 4Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle - Monetize plastic and no litter
• Involve youth organization AIESEC, students and young leaders to contribute every week
• Involve plastic industries in implementing Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR)

Shah said that the endeavour is to create a sense of belonging in the hearts and minds of people by engaging citizens, students and corporate though a volunteer program to beat plastic pollution as well as suggest ways for a circular economy.

“Plastic waste management is a key priority for India. At Coca-Cola, we care about the country and we aspire to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can that we sell by 2030," said Ishteyaque Amjad, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia.

AIESEC India President Devik Sodha said, "We place our confidence in youth as the key to unlock a better future and believe that it is the responsibility of the youth to actively engage in protecting the environment as well as bringing behavioural change in society."

AIESEC is committed to support the Afroz Shah-led initiative by providing volunteer leadership to the community efforts and empower the next-gen community leaders, he added.