K.R. Pet MLA H. T. Manju, who inaugurated the unit, said Centre and State governments were according high priority to cleanliness and waste management, and were providing necessary infrastructure even in rural areas.
He said indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste had adverse effects on the environment and on people’s health. Burning plastic causes air pollution while plastic waste also obstructs the flow of rainwater.
Therefore, he said, it is the responsibility of every individual to segregate plastic waste at source and dispose of it scientifically.
He appreciated Chowdanahalli Gram Panchayat for successfully operationalising the Plastic Waste Management Unit by making proper use of the basic infrastructure provided by the government. Steps should be taken to extend this system to all gram panchayats in the taluk, he said.
He called for making the door-to-door collection of dry waste more effective. Along with collecting and segregating dry waste, wet waste should be composted locally to reduce the generation of waste, he said.
The role of women from self-help groups (SHGs) is significant in the successful operation of the Plastic Waste Management Unit. The active involvement of women in waste collection and management of the unit, including driving vehicles, was a model for others, he said, while congratulating the sanitation workers.
While the government can provide infrastructure for the effective management of solid, liquid, and plastic waste, it is the commitment and responsibility of local staff and co-operation from people that are crucial to ensure that the facilities are effectively managed and their real benefits reach the people, he said.
Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R. Nandini, who explained the operation of the Plastic Waste Management Unit, said plastic waste is segregated into different categories, compressed, and prepared into bales before being sent to recycling units and factories.
She threw light on the process of collecting, segregating and baling plastic waste, and the benefits generated by the unit while explaining the possibilities of sending scientifically processed plastic waste for recycling and generating revenue from waste.
She pointed out that indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste adversely affects the environment. Plastic materials have recycling value when scientifically collected, segregated, and baled for recycling.
This would not only ensure that plastic waste was managed in an environmentally safe manner, but also create an opportunity to generate revenue from waste. By using the revenue generated by the unit for waste collection and management activities, a self-reliant and sustainable waste management system can be developed, she said.
The involvement of women members of self-help groups in plastic waste collection and management was a special feature, said Ms. Nandini. The fact that women had undergone training in operating the unit, using machinery and collecting waste, and were working with confidence was an inspiration for other panchayats as well, she added.
She said there were plans to further expand the plastic waste management system across K.R. Pet taluk. Problems in all gram panchayats would be identified, baseline surveys and assessments conducted, and necessary measures will be taken, she assured.