The city Corporation will invite Expressions of Interest (EoI) from private agencies willing to collect and cart away plastic waste generated.
While the provisions of this agreement are yet to be finalised, what is envisaged is for collection centres to be set up in parts of the city from where the company concerned will transport the plastic waste to locations outside the State where plastic is shredded and used for road tarring.
Last year, the Corporation had attempted to create a system whereby Kudumbasree’s Cleanwell workers were to visit homes and collect cleaned plastic waste, which was to be taken to shredding machines set up at the Palayam market.
Issues arose, including the question of where to take the shredded waste and lack of support by sections of the public to ensure the supply of plastic that was cleaned. In light of these failures, the civic body is treading lightly this time but is hopeful that its programme will bring some respite from the mounds of plastic waste.
A meeting will be held shortly to finalise the terms. The civic body may also provide for a facility to crush plastic bottles to be collected by the agency. It is also considering resurrecting the hologram project. The plan aims at encouraging the reuse of bags, especially because the price of one will be hiked considerably and the Corporation squads will be able to legally confiscate bags found without the hologram.
