Money in trash! In Gujarat, get Re 1 from used plastic bottles; toys and more too on list

Gujarat government's upcoming policy is set to incentivise the systematic disposal of plastic waste and through it poor families can earn a livelihood. A system is set to be set up by the government through which plastic wastes collected from the cities and villages would be recycled. The rag pickers who collect the plastic would be paid as per the weight of the plastic waste.

Re 1 would be paid by the government for every plastic bottle that is put through a reverse vending machine, CM Vijay Rupani announced. This benefit would also be applicable to other recycled plastic waste such as gadgets, toys, kitchenware, bags etc. 

"The government is seriously thinking of incentivising systematic disposal of plastic waste including pet bottles. Plastic bottles are easy to collect as compared to other waste. There is a huge chunk of such other plastic waste materials that remain unsorted which creates more pollution. If such waste also can help poor families of rag pickers to earn, it is the best way to make the practice of systematic disposal," said a senior official privy to the development said, as quoted by DNA.

The official further stated that this initiative would also encourage the rag pickers to sort the plastic waster from the other waste. "Also, citizens who segregate plastic waste will get some rewards from civic bodies so that they get motivated. The policy for earning through reverse vending machines would be limited to rag pickers only, but common people could also get some benefit for their contribution to make a plastic pollution free society," he said.

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The government would also include the provision for penalties against irrational disposal of plastic waste and disposal of the same and use of hazardous plastic materials in its policy. However, some rules have also been set by the government regarding the ban of some non-degradable plastic materials.