ITC Limited, in partnership with the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC), celebrated the achievements of young environmental champions at the Wellbeing Out of Waste (WOW) Interschool Recycling Championship 2024-25 Awards Ceremony, held at The Grand Regent Hotel on Tuesday.
The flagship ITC WOW programme aims to instil the habit of source segregation and responsible waste management among school students. Implemented across major cities in South India, the initiative promotes a culture of sustainability and civic responsibility. This year, over 9.3 lakh students from 2,482 schools participated, collecting a staggering 4,751 metric tons of dry waste. In Coimbatore alone, 85,642 students from 160 schools contributed 118 metric tons of segregated dry waste.
The awards ceremony recognised the exceptional efforts of these students and schools in furthering the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Government and private schools from CBSE, ICSE, and SSC boards took part, fostering unity through a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
Dr. Prashanth IAS, Assistant Collector of Coimbatore, served as Chief Guest, commending the initiative and its impact. “It is inspiring to see schools, NGOs, and corporations like ITC join hands for such a noble cause,” he said. He added that similar campaigns by the city and district administration are also working to spread the message of waste segregation.
Sibsankar Bandyopadhyay, Executive Vice President – HR & CSR, ITC Limited (Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division), and other senior officials including Mr. V Murali, Unit Head – Mill Operations, and Mr. S.N. Umakanth, Deputy General Manager – WOW, also attended. Umakanth emphasized the importance of source segregation, urging students to become "Ambassadors of Cleanliness" in their homes and communities.
The event featured vibrant cultural performances and drew a gathering of around 300 participants. Amirta Vidyalayam, Coimbatore, was crowned the 2024 Overall Champion for its outstanding contribution.
Since its inception in 2007, the WOW programme has grown into one of India’s largest solid waste management awareness initiatives. It has engaged 29 million citizens, supported over 17,900 waste workers, and annually recovers 67,100 metric tons of recyclable waste. ITC’s continued leadership in circular economy practices reinforces its commitment to a cleaner, sustainable future.