Himachal government is committed to make the state plastic-free and making all possible efforts in this direction. In order to make the state plastic-free, the state government has started a scheme to purchase single use and non-recyclable plastic packaging. The state government has invited suggestions from common citizens to make this scheme more effective. This was informed by a spokesperson of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology here today. He said that the people of the state can give their valuable suggestions on the MyGov Portal https://himachal.mygov.in/.
The last date for submitting suggestions is 20th March, 2020.
He said that plastic waste was being purchased at Rs. 75 per kg under the Plastic Waste Purchase Scheme which was launched on 2nd October, 2019. The collected plastic waste can be deposited in the designated centers set up by the Local Urban Bodies. Most people of the state are taking advantage of this scheme. Despite this, the problem of scattered plastic has not been resolved and due to which government wants to strengthen this scheme.
Under this scheme waste purchased from local families and registered waste pickers has been selected. This includes plastic waste used in the packaging of items such as bread, cake, biscuits, cookies, snacks, kurkure, chips, wafers, candies, mattresses, clothes, cheese puffs, ice cream candies, noodles, cereals, cornflakes etc. In addition, the well-cleaned and dry, plastic waste used in pouches/ packaging of a variety of ingredients such as milk, oil, shampoos, hand washes, lassi, yogurt, juices, etc. was also being purchased.
He said that there were different types of plastics waste that are not being purchased under the Plastic Waste Purchase Scheme. It includes heavy plastic waste materials such as plastic furniture, kitchen utensils, toys, electronic, electrical waste. Apart from this paint bottles, medicine and mineral water bottles, buckets, mugs, biomedical waste bottles, plastic boxes, plastic crockery, jars, tiffins, toilet utility waste items and other recyclable items.
