Bhuvneshwar Municipal Corporation Initiated “Meal for Plastic” to Beat Plastic Pollution
In a bid to fight plastic pollution in the city, Bhuvneshwar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has inaugurated its “Meal for Plastic” initiative under the state’s Aahar scheme. A beneficiary launched the programme from the Aahar Center near Kalpana Square in presence of Municipal Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary and others. The scheme has been launched across state-government-run 11 Aahar Centers in Odisha’s capital.
This is kind of a Plastic Collection campaign, plus (provides) food security. There are a lot of people who collect plastic and there also the people who throw plastic, which creates a problem. So we thought there should be some mechanism to collect this plastic waste, where both the objectives can be achieved.
BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary said while speaking to ANI.
Odisha: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in collaboration with NGOs has rolled out an initiative “Meal for Plastic” under State government’s Ahar Yojana. Prem Chandra Chaudhary, BMC Commissioner says,”This is kind of a plastic collection campaign, plus food security.” pic.twitter.com/kc79AJI922
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2019
In this programme, any person can get one Aahar meal in exchange for half kilo plastic at the Aahar counter. As per the guidelines issued by BMC, one person can only submit one kg of plastic per day in the Aahar Kendras in exchange for two Aahar coupons.
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According to BMC officials, 10 kg of plastic waste was collected in exchange for 20 Aahar meal coupons on the first day at the Aahar Center near Kalpana Square. Besides, one and a half kg of plastic was collected from the Aahar Center at Rasulgarh.
The Corporation officials flagged off an awareness vehicle as well, which will be moving within the city sphere to spread awareness about the new programme.
Also Read: Kullu’s Waste-to-Taste Cafe: Residents Get Free Meals for Collecting Trash
BMC has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Touchstone Foundation for the programme. To ensure the success of this initiative and a flawless operational mechanism, representatives of the Touchstone Foundation will maintain a date-wise record of beneficiaries and the total collected plastic. UNDP representatives will also collect plastic to maintain transparency.
Such initiatives have been started in many parts of the country where people can get meals by submitting plastic and other waste for proper waste management. Though it is a small step it could inspire thousands of people to give up plastic use completely and make the world a better place.
Via: Hindustan Times
