Kudumbasree workers will begin collecting plastic carry bags from homes as part of a city Corporation initiative on Tuesday.
At 9 a.m. on Tuesday washed carry bags from the official residence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be handed over to Kudumbasree workers by Mayor K. Chandrika.
At 8.30 a.m., Speaker G. Karthikeyan will kick off a sanitation drive of the civic body under which 1,500 volunteers from the Corporation, the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Kudumbasree and the National Service Scheme will clear plastic waste from either side of the National Highway bypass from Kovalam to Kazhakuttam. The inaugural session will be held at Eenchakkal Junction.
Corporation workers will spray a solution on the garbage heaps along the bypass to do away with the foul smell. After removing the plastic component, the garbage will be buried under the site.
“Those who wish to have the Kudumbasree workers collect plastic waste from their homes should contact their ward councillor. But only washed and cleaned plastic covers will be accepted. Dirty covers, covers with garbage inside them and other material such as sanitary napkins will not be accepted,” Ms. Chandrika told a press conference here on Monday.
At Rs.50 a month
The plastic collection would be done for a monthly fee of Rs.50.
The Corporation had given training to Kudumbasree workers in nine wards to collect plastic waste. Gradually, depending on the demand, this would be extended to more wards.
The plastic waste thus collected from the city would be taken to the Corporation’s yard at Palayam. From there the waste would be handed over to the personnel of the Sai Garamam at Thonnakkal, a voluntary organisation.
On an understanding arrived at with the Corporation, Sai Gramam will take away all the plastic waste collected by the Corporation from the city. This clearance might be done daily or once a week, depending on the quantity of plastic reaching the Palayam yard, Ms. Chandrika said. Sai Gramam had also agreed to accept e-waste, she said.
Depending on what Sai Gramam wanted for their processing machines, the Corporation could either shred the plastic waste or hand it over as it is.
Holograms
“Very soon the sale of plastic covers which do not sport the hologram of the Corporation will be banned. So we expect the use of plastic covers to come down sharply. We also expect that people would start re-using plastic covers,” she said.
In reply to a question Ms. Chandrika said the Corporation expected to install 50,000 pipe composting units in the city. Though the Corporation had set a target of one lakh units, many households, particularly those in the newly added wards did not require such units. Kudumbasree workers would collect the compost from houses which did not need them and distribute it to those who wanted it, she added.
