Elephanta Island's First Waste Center and Biodiversity Book Launch June 1

Elephanta Island will soon get its first waste management centre to tackle long-standing environmental challenges. The Solid Waste Material Recovery Facility (MRF) will open on June 1, marking a step toward better conservation efforts. Alongside the inauguration, a new book documenting the island’s biodiversity will also be launched. The MRF centre aims to create a proper system for handling dry waste. It will manage collection, sorting, storage, and recycling—addressing the island’s persistent waste issues. The project is a joint effort by Waste Matters Foundation, Healing Himalayas, and Ek Saath Foundation.

Elephanta Island, despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, struggles with waste management despite its nearly 70% forest cover. The new facility hopes to improve these conditions while supporting broader conservation goals. At the same event, the book *Biodiversity of Elephanta Island* will be released. Based on the first biodiversity survey of the island, it documents the natural heritage, environmental challenges, and unique species found there. Environmentalist Sanjiv Valsan and ethnobotanist Dr. Pratiksha Patel co-authored the publication. The book aims to raise awareness and guide future conservation work. It combines scientific research with photo documentation to highlight the island’s ecological importance.

The MRF centre and the biodiversity book represent two key efforts to protect Elephanta Island. The waste facility will provide a structured approach to managing refuse, while the publication offers a scientific foundation for ongoing conservation. Both initiatives reflect growing attention to the island’s environmental needs.