Switcheko initiates recycling & awareness campaign in Hyderabad

Hyderabad has taken a step towards promoting sustainable waste management with the launch of the Swachhata Yatra, a mobile plastic recycling awareness campaign flagged off at T-Hub. The initiative is being supported by members of PlastIndia 2026 and the Telangana and Andhra Plastics Manufacturers Association (TAAPMA), and is organised by Switcheko.

At the heart of the campaign is a specially designed mobile unit fitted with a plastic compressor and an incinerator, showcasing scientific methods of plastic waste management and recycling. Designed and manufactured in Telangana, the unit will be displayed at multiple locations across Hyderabad during the International Kite Festival before embarking on a nationwide journey.

The truck will travel from Hyderabad to New Delhi via Medak, Kamareddy, Adilabad, Nagpur, Bhopal and Agra, collecting plastic waste and demonstrating on-site processing techniques along the route. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about plastic sustainability and responsible disposal practices.

Speaking at the launch, Rohit Kanugo, a member of the PlastIndia 2026 start-up committee, announced that the upcoming PlastIndia Expo will also host the Bharat Next Challenge. The competition will invite students and start-ups to present innovative solutions in sustainability and plastics recycling. Winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, along with the opportunity to secure funding of up to Rs 1.5 crore from IIM Calcutta to scale their ideas.

In a parallel initiative, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has announced a two-day e-waste sanitation drive across its limits on Monday and Tuesday. Temporary e-waste collection centres will be set up in every ward to facilitate safe disposal.

Ahead of the drive, GHMC staff conducted awareness campaigns in several colonies, using public announcements, flex banners and auto-mounted loudspeakers to inform residents. The drive aims to ensure systematic collection and scientific processing of electronic waste from homes, commercial establishments and public spaces.

Last November, Switcheko Sustainability launched its ‘Mobile Sustainability on Wheels’ unit, a first-of-its-kind mobile waste processing vehicle, at the Telangana Pollution Control Board. The initiative aims to bring on-site recycling capabilities directly to communities, institutions and waste collection points.