Members of women self-help groups (SHGs) in Naganakulam panchayat submitted a petition to the Collector on Monday, demanding that the recycled plastic waste generated at a unit run by them be used while laying roads.
The members of Swadeshi SHG and Pavazhamalli SHG brought buckets of recycled plastic waste to the Collectorate. “We buy one kg of plastic waste for Rs. 6 or collect it from public places. We use empty water sachets and plastic bags which are below 40 microns. After recycling, it is sold for 30 a kg and can be used for laying roads,” said G. Bodhilakshmi, head of Swadeshi SHG. The SHG members said that since there was not much of procurement of the recycled waste for laying roads in the past one year, their livelihood had been affected. “There are no buyers for eight tonnes of recycled plastic waste lying with us,” the members said.
The recycling unit, established under Magalir Thittam in 2012, was inaugurated by the then Collector Anshul Mishra. In May, the SHG members had submitted a petition to Collector L. Subramanian alleging non-payment of dues for the recycled plastic waste procured for laying roads in villages.
