Buyback policy notified for non-recyclable plastic

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 1

The Himachal Government will now purchase non-recyclable plastic and single use plastic waste and bags at Rs 75 per kg at its collection centres to be run by the urban local bodies across the state.

The state Environment, Science and Technology Department today notified the buyback policy for purchase of non-recyclable plastic aimed at arresting environmental degradation. Rag pickers will not only benefit from this policy but they will play an important role in collecting and selling it to urban local bodies.

As per estimates, the total plastic likely to be collected would be about 75,000 kg and the budget required for it would be about Rs 2.81 crores.

The plastic waste thus generated would be put to use in road construction, which will result in the Public Works Department saving up to Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per km. Besides, the plastic would be used to generate energy in cement plants. The cost of transportation of the plastic would be borne by the urban local bodies and collection centres have already been notified at 14 places.

The Departments of Urban Development, Public Works, Rural Development, State Pollution Control Board and cement companies will be involved in the initiative to rid the fragile hill ecology of the adverse impact of plastic waste. Interestingly, the buy-back policy provides for a minimum support price to the rag pickers or any other individual from households.

The policy is part of plastic waste management initiative. “Since rag pickers or recyclers do not get good returns in collecting plastic and as it is mixed with other waste and not segregated, they do not pick it up. So the idea was to give the rag pickers an incentive,” said RD Dhiman, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Health. He added that presently, the rag pickers were just being given Rs 4 per kg which led to non-collection of plastic waste.

Prior to this, the government had fixed Rs 3 to Rs 4 per kg for purchase of plastic under Polythene Hatao Paryavaran Bachao Abhiyaan but it failed to yield the desired results as it was not remunerative compared to the effort that went into collection the plastic waste. “Since it takes almost two to three hours for a rag picker to collect one-kg plastic waste, it was imperative to give him at least minimum wages. Hence, rate of Rs 75 per kg was worked out,” said DC Rana, Director Environment.

The minimum support price of Rs 75 per kg would be applicable to non-recyclable and single use plastic waste like packaging of chips, milk, oil pouches, toffees, biscuits, chocolates, confectionary items, wrappers and readymade cloth packaging.

To be used in road construction

• The plastic waste thus generated would be put to use in road construction, which will result in the Public Works Department saving up to Rs 35,000 to  Rs 50,000 per kilometre
• Besides, the plastic would be used to generate energy in cement plants
• The cost of transportation of the plastic would be borne by the urban local bodies and collection centres have already been notified at 14 places

Incentive for rag pickers

Rag pickers do not get good returns by collecting plastic. As it is mixed with other waste and not segregated, they do not pick it up. So the idea is to give the rag pickers an incentive. RD Dhiman, Additional chief secy, environment & health