The Director General of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, visited Centaurus Mall in Islamabad to strengthen public-private partnership on Waste Management and promote sustainable urban practices.
During the visit, Pak-EPA presented green benches made from confiscated single-use plastic to Centaurus Mall as a tangible example of turning plastic waste into useful products and raising public awareness about recycling. The gift underlined the Agency’s focus on practical recycling solutions and community engagement in waste reduction.
Officials from Pak-EPA and Centaurus Mall agreed to work together on capacity building and environmental training for senior management, middle management and operational staff to improve on-site waste handling and compliance. The partnership aims to embed best practices in Waste Management across the mall’s operations and staff routines.
The Director General recommended installation of Reverse Vending Machines for plastic bottles to incentivize public participation in recycling and stressed the importance of segregation of waste at source. It was proposed that plastic waste collected at Centaurus be handed over to Pak-EPA for recycling and repurposing, creating a local loop for plastic diversion from landfills.
Both parties said they would maintain close coordination and communication to ensure these initiatives are implemented effectively. If this model proves successful at Centaurus Mall, Pak-EPA intends to replicate the approach across other major shopping malls and commercial centres in Islamabad to strengthen sustainable Waste Management citywide.
