Bisleri International’s flagship Bottles for Change initiative facilitated a plastic waste collection drive during the historic Pune Wari pilgrimage 2026, aiming to promote responsible waste disposal and encourage pilgrims to adopt sustainable practices. The initiative focused on collecting used plastic bottles and ensuring they were channelled for recycling instead of ending up as litter.
The annual Wari pilgrimage, which attracts lakhs of devotees travelling towards Pandharpur, witnesses large gatherings along routes in Maharashtra. With a significant increase in waste generation during such mass events, the waste collection campaign aimed to create awareness among pilgrims about plastic segregation and recycling.
Under the Bottles for Change programme, volunteers and waste management teams worked to collect discarded PET bottles and educate people about the importance of keeping plastic separate from regular waste. The initiative promotes the idea that used plastic bottles are a recyclable resource rather than waste.
Bisleri’s programme focuses on creating awareness about source segregation, proper disposal methods and connecting collected plastic with recycling channels. The initiative works with communities, institutions, local organisations and waste collectors to ensure that segregated plastic reaches authorised recycling facilities.
The company has been running similar plastic management efforts across Maharashtra through collection drives, awareness programmes and partnerships with civic bodies. In Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad region, Bisleri has also partnered with the municipal corporation under its Bottles for Change initiative to strengthen plastic waste management systems.
Environmental experts and civic groups have often highlighted the challenge of managing waste during large religious gatherings. Initiatives like these aim to reduce plastic pollution while encouraging citizens to participate in cleaner and greener public events.
Through the Pune Wari waste collection drive, Bisleri aims to reinforce the message of responsible consumption and recycling among thousands of participants. The company’s broader Bottles for Change movement works towards increasing awareness about plastic recycling and building a more organised collection network across cities.
The campaign during Wari 2026 reflects the growing focus on sustainable practices during major public gatherings, where community participation plays a key role in reducing environmental impact.
