Hyderabad: Plastic eradication drive gathers steam in city

The project involves the establishment of the material recovery facility also called Swachhta Kendras in the GHMC waste transfer stations. In the second phase, it is planned in two transfer stations Lower Tank bund and Nagole transfer stations and it would get set up within six months

Plans are on to launch plastic-to-bag exchange campaign and eco exchange stalls in and around active locations in the city in partnership with GHMC. Public and shopkeepers would be asked to bring plastic and exchange them for cloth bags that are environment-friendly

Hyderabad: With a view to eradicating plastic from the city and provide an eco-friendly environment to citizens, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has taken up a plastic waste management project in the city. The main aim of this project is to collect, recycle plastic waste and reuse.

The project involves establishment of the material recovery facility also called Swachhta Kendras in the GHMC waste transfer stations. In the second phase, it is planned in two transfer stations Lower Tank bund and Nagole transfer stations and it would get set up within six months.

A formal agreement was signed between GHMC and UNDP officials last month for the project. Also, planning to set up eco exchange stalls, plastic collection banks in GHMC limits.The project is part of an all-India initiative with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL) chipping in with funds phase-wise. Ramky Foundation is UNDP implementation partner in Hyderabad for executing this project in GHMC limits.

In the first phase, one SwachhtaKendra was established in Hyderabad in August 2019 at Kaithalapur transfer station (Kukatpally) and currently around 500 tonnes of plastic waste is being recycled on a monthly basis.

Prabhjot Sodhi, Head, Circular Economy (UNDP), said, "This project has been planned in both the Telugu states. If we segregate and recycle plastic waste, half the problem would be solved, it is our behavioral changes that need to be worked upon first. UNDP has taken initiative."

The first initiative taken to set up SwachhtaKendrasat transfer station and Rs 5 crore is estimated to cost to implement the plastic waste management project.

"We are planning to launch a plastic-to-bag exchange campaign and entail the setting up of eco exchange stalls in and around active locations in the city in partnership with GHMC where the public and shopkeepers would be asked to bring plastic and exchange them for cloth bags that are environmentally friendly," said Nadia Rasheed, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP.

"In the first phase last year we set up swachhtakendras at Kaithalapur and in the last six months treated 3,000 tones of plastic waste which otherwise would have ended in the landfill," she added.

There are plans to set up eco exchange stalls in each zone in GHMC limits. One eco-exchange stall is planned in Kukatpally and also planning to set up plastic collection banks and plastic café at the IT corridor," said Rami Reddy, Head (CSR) of Ramky Foundation.

Battling Plastic Scourge

• Swachhta Kendras at two transfer stations at Lower Tank bund and Nagole transfer stations

• Plans afoot to set up eco exchange stalls in each zone in GHMC limits to organise plastic collection banks, street plays, plastic café and in the first phase starting at IT corridor

• UNDP in partnership with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL), covers 50 cities, including Vijayawada and Tirupati

• Six new centers will be operational in the coming year in both the Telugu speaking states