Why in the News?

Indian cities are adopting local initiatives to reduce, reuse, return, recover and recreate plastic waste.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched on 2 October 2014, has strengthened waste collection, segregation and recovery systems. Identified single-use plastic items have been prohibited since 1 July 2022.

Key Highlights

Focus: Plastic waste reduction, reuse, recovery and circular economy.
Trichy: Market-level campaign to reduce single-use plastic.
Vita, Maharashtra: Thaila ATMs provide reusable cotton bags.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Buy-back system for used milk pouches.
Bengaluru: Material Recovery Facility under UNDP Project Prithvi.
Patiala: Multilayered Plastic (MLP) converted into durable chipboards.
SBM focuses on source segregation, door-to-door collection, scientific waste processing and material recovery.

Three farmers’ markets covered:
- Tennur
- K.K. Nagar
- Woraiyur
220 vendors engaged.
ThunippaiThiruvizhai or Cloth-Bag Festival promoted reusable bags.
Single-use plastic avoided:
- Tennur: 2,200 kg in one year
- K.K. Nagar: 620 kg in four months
- Woraiyur: 300 kg in six months

Location: Vita town, Maharashtra.
Five Thaila ATMs installed at crowded locations.
Provide reusable cotton bags through a vending-machine model.
Based on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology for remote stock monitoring.
Local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) stitch the bags.
Around 6,000 bags sold.
Weekly market recorded nearly 200 bags in a day.
In Indapur, authorities seized 25 kg plastic bags and imposed a ₹90,000 fine.

Location: Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Used plastic milk pouches exchanged for rewards such as:
- Fresh milk
- Discounts
Implemented with ANIIDCO and SVPMC.
By November 2024:
- 17,600 milk pouches collected.
- 352 litres of milk provided as rewards.
Uses incentives to encourage responsible disposal and recycling.

UNDP Project Prithvi supports plastic waste recovery.
Swachhata Kendra, a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), established in 2019.
Centre sorts plastic and processes it through:
- Shredding
- Baling
Processed material becomes suitable for recyclers.
Provided employment to 76 Safai Saathis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Processed plastic used for:
- Roads
- Agricultural water pipes
- Furniture
Demonstrates the circular economy by returning waste into productive use.

Multilayered Plastics (MLPs) combine materials such as:
- Plastic
- Paper
- Aluminium
Their multiple layers make separation and recycling difficult.
Patiala uses a Plastic Recycling Facility (PRF).
Process:
- Sorting → cleaning → shredding → hot/cold pressing
Produces chipboards, an alternative to plywood.
Applications include:
- Furniture
- Roofing
- Temporary shelters
Capacity: 10 tonnes/day
Produces 75-100 chipboards.
Supports circular economy and reduces landfill waste.

SBM: Launched on 2 October 2014.
Identified single-use plastic items prohibited from 1 July 2022.
Trichy: 220 vendors across three farmers’ markets engaged in plastic reduction.
Vita, Maharashtra: Five Thaila ATMs provide reusable cotton bags.
Andaman & Nicobar: 17,600 milk pouches collected by November 2024.
Bengaluru: Swachhata Kendra MRF established in 2019 under Project Prithvi.
Patiala: MLP waste converted into chipboards.
The five-part plastic approach highlighted is reduce, reuse, return, recover and recreate.

MRF vs PRF: The Bengaluru initiative involves a Material Recovery Facility, while Patiala uses a Plastic Recycling Facility.
MLP: Multilayered plastics are difficult to recycle because they combine multiple material layers.
Thaila ATM: It provides reusable cotton bags, not plastic alternatives.
Circular economy: The Bengaluru and Patiala examples demonstrate conversion of discarded plastic into new productive materials/products, rather than simply disposing of it.