BMC signs MoU for sustainable plastic waste management

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on December 18,signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages to improve sustainable plastic waste management system in Bhubaneswar.

MoU signed at BMC headquarters stated that a Swachhata Kendra of 6,000 sq feet will be set up near the temporary transit station near Sainik School for transport of solid waste. The aim behind constructing Swatchta Kendra is to collect, segregate and recycleat least 6,800 tonne of plastic waste in the city over the next four years.

A BMC official said, “The move will not only help reduce city’s pollution but also improve socio-economic condition of at least 700 rag pickers who will be known as Swachh Sath is.”

Plastic garbage will be collected from 10 Wards of the city for which ‘integrated material recovery centres’ will be setup. These recovery centres will ensure the collection of nearly five tonne plastic waste and its segregation in a day. The project also includes identification of spots for setting up Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCC) and create women entrepreneurs through women self-help groups for supply of plastics to the main Swachhata Kendra.

The DWCCs will act as waste banks monitored through a mobile application. These centres will also have the best transport mechanism to deliver waste to the Swachhata Kendra.

BMC officials said that the civic body would work closely with the Pollution Control Board and request State departments to supply plastics less than 50 microns as an alternative to coal tar for construction of roads as per the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016.