Use paper slips at ATMs and billing counter: Telangana Govt

HYDERABAD: In a bid to reduce the non-biodegradable waste, which is a cause of concern in many municipalities, the Telangana state government has decided to replace plastic hand gloves with paper slips. Paper slips can be wrapped around a finger and can be used in ATMs while making Point of Sale (PoS) transactions and using touch screens in commercial outlets and offices.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has already worked on few models and sent them to the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department for implementation in all of the ULBs of the state.

Since COVID-19 has impacted the nation, bio medical waste and non-biodegradable waste especially hand gloves is adding to waste piles. In a little time, the bio medical and non-biodegradable waste has increased with the civic body collecting over 1,000 metric tonnes of waste daily.

Many customers are familiar with contact-less transactions at ATMs and in other places customers has to put in the PIN on PoS machines. “So if a paper slip is placed at the transaction counters, it would be hygienic for user and will also be environment friendly,” source added.

The civic body is in contact with manufacturing units and have asked them to produce biodegradable hand gloves, which could be cheaper compared to conventional hand gloves added source.