Hyderabad: Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) were installed and inaugurated at Charminar (opposite Bhagya Lakshmi Temple) and Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS – platforms 14 and 34) on 2nd February 2021, marking the beginning of initiatives to ensure systematic collection and transport of PET bottles to authorized plastic recycling facilities and inculcate responsible disposal behavior among citizens in Hyderabad.
Several scientists argue that we are living in an ‘Era of Plastic’. India generates about 26000 TPD of plastic waste amounting to 9.4 million TPA. Even though 60% of the plastic produced in the country is recycled through informal sector, 9400 TPD of plastic waste is left unattended creating environmental concern.
Plastic is ubiquitous and plays a pivotal role in the day to day life; in the absence of viable alternatives, a blanket ban on plastic is often not the solution. Instead, rolling out an efficient and sustainable method of plastic waste management, gradually shifting towards a model of circular economy focusing on design-reduce-reuse; is required to curb the menace.
In this context, the “Enhancing Circular Economy Perspectives – Plastic Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation” project was launched in March 2019, supported by the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (IGES-CCET)
Japan, with ICLEI- South Asia as the implementation partner. The project was aimed to strategize and implement a multi-pronged approach and bring the much-required transition from ‘Cradle to Grave’ to ‘Cradle to Cradle’ approach in plastic production, consumption and disposal value chain.
In addition to developing a holistic plastic waste management strategy and action plan for GHMC, pilot activities were implemented where the emphasis was on reduction of waste generation at source, followed by streamlining collection and transport of waste to registered recyclers.
As per the survey undertaken by ICLEI South Asia, roughly almost 20% of the 5000 TPD waste generated in GHMC is plastic. Residential areas alone generate around 365 TPD of plastic waste. This figure is expected to increase to 495 TPD by 2025 considering the business as usual scenario. 2% of the plastic waste is composed of PET plastics which attract relatively higher price in the DRCCs and subsequently earn high value in the recycling market. This pilot initiative was conceptualized to ensure systematic collection, pre-processing and transport of PET waste to registered recycling facilities. ICLEI South Asia appointed Biocrux India Pvt. Ltd. For design, supply, commissioning as ND operation and maintenance of the RVMs for 7 years.
3 Reverse vending machines (RVMs) are installed in the city; 2 at MGBS, 1 at Charminar. Citizens can deposit PET bottles into the machine and earn rewards in the form of PAYTM cash-back or a discount on bus tickets.
PET bottles would undergo pre-processing inside the machine and subsequently, this waste would be converted to clothing items such as t-shirts, caps etc. enabling the adoption of circular economy through recycling plastics into new products, influencing consumer behaviour and developing better waste management practices at the community level. To build awareness on the use of RVM, 4 banners are being displayed at 4 entry points to Charminar premise. Information on the commissioning of RVMs are announced over the Public Announcement System in MGBS.
Learning from this pilot intervention will inform city/state wide escalation with the potential to manage plastic use and waste generation more efficiently while retaining its value as a material.
The project also worked with shop keepers in the Adarsh Nagar area to adopt biodegradable carry bags and cloth bags, instead of plastic bags; women groups were trained in the making and marketing of cloth bags; they were provided sewing machines to enable sustained livelihoods. Additionally, several information campaigns were implemented over the last two years to developcapacities of stakeholders and raise awareness of the community, as critical measures to ensure a shift away from single use plastics and ensuring recovery and recycling.
Inaugural Ceremony:
The RVM at Charminar was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr. N. Samrat Ashok, Zonal Commissioner, Charminar Zone, Mr. S. N. Surya Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Charminar Circle.
Further, two more RVMs were inaugurated at MGBS by Mr. Sunil Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department Government of Telangana, Mr. BhadvathSanthosh, IAS, Additional Commissioner (Health and NUHM), and Ms. B. Vijendra, IAS, Special Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department Government of Telangana. The event was attended by Mr. A. PurushotttamNaik, Executive Director, Mr. P. Muni Shekar, Executive Director, Hyderabad and Karimnagar Zone, and Ms. Vara Prasad, Regional Manager.
Mr. Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI Global and Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia said that the “Plastic Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan” developed with GHMC through the project, enables Hyderabad’s journey towards embracing a circular economy and will guide implementation of several actions required to ensure sustainable plastic waste management in the city. The RVMs are one step in this direction.
- Key members of the implementation team and participants of the inauguration ceremony
Implementation team: ICLEI South Asia, IGES-CCET, UNEP-IETC
- Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General – ICLEI Global and Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia
- Soumya Chaturvedula, Deputy Director, ICLEI South Asia,
- Kazunobu Onogawa, CCET Director, IGES
- Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage, Programme Manager, IGES
- SumskruthaShroff, Senior Project Officer, ICLEI South Asia
- Anuradha Adhikari, Project Officer, ICLEI South Asia
GHMC
- BhadvathSanthosh, IAS, Additional Commissioner (Health and NUHM),
- N. Samrat Ashok, Zonal Commissioner, Charminar Zone
- S. N. Surya Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Charminar Circle
TSRTC
- Sunil Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department Government of Telangana
- B. Vijendra, IAS, Special Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department Government of Telangana
- A. PurushotttamNaik, Executive Director
- P. Muni Shekar, Executive Director, Hyderabad and Karimnagar Zone
- Vara Prasad, Regional Manager
