To tackle the problem of multi layered plastic in its areas, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) initiated a joint programme to collect and utilise it as alternate fuel to generate energy.
EDMC Commissioner Ranbir Singh said with the sincere efforts on ground the team of 400 waste collectors has collected 364.8 MT of Multi-layered plastic (MlP) since November 2017 from the east Delhi and sent to waste to energy plant for further processing.
He said that the project has provided an opportunity to the waste collector to earn more by collecting and segregating MlP waste and the waste is utilised as alternate fuel and do not contaminate the water and soil. "We are envisaging that very soon, EDMC area will be free from the plastic littering and the cleanest part of the Delhi. This model of EPR is an absolute example to achieve sustainability," he said.
Singh also said that after the implementation of 'Plastic Waste Management Rules (PWM) -2016', environment conscious brand owners came forward to contribute for the cause.
He further elaborated that PWM talked about extended producer responsibility that means producer, brand owner and importer of plastic packaging is responsible to establish a collection back mechanism for their post consumer packaging material either at their own or with the support of waste management agencies
"The safai karamchari and waste collectors/scrap dealer burnt the heap of MlP just to get rid of it. EDMC and IPCA worked together to educate waste collectors and safai karamchari and trained them to segregate MlP as they segregate other valuable and recyclable waste commodity, he said.
A senior EDMC official said that the special grade of plastic is a combination of multi-layered plastic which makes it difficult for recycling so it is being used at waste to energy plant to generate electricity. He also said that burning plastic at 1100 degree temperature do not cause pollution.