Local bodies minister inaugurates plastic reverse vending machines

Ludhiana, December 7, 2022: With an aim to promote 'Swachhta' and reduce plastic pollution, Local bodies minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar inaugurated plastic reverse vending machines in the civil hospital, here on Wednesday. The machines will help in recycling the plastic waste. 
 
Under this project being taken up under the Ludhiana smart city mission, 10 machines have been purchased at a cost of Rs 51.33 lakh, including maintenance of five years.
 
These machines have been installed at 10 busy locations of the city including markets, public places etc. Two machines have been installed at Civil hospital, two at DC office complex (mini secretariat), one each at ESIC hospital, Sarabha Nagar main market, Tuition market in Model Town extension, Model Town Gol market, Government College for Girls and Guru Nanak stadium.
 
The machine will accept and crush plastic bottles/aluminium cans and multi layer packaging including packets of potato chips, wafers, chocolate wrapper, mouth fresheners, all shiny flexible packaging (shampoo etc), ketchup, dettol pack, face wash, toothpaste tube etc. The crushed/compacted material will then be sent for recycling and the contractor will be responsible for the same.
 
MC Commissioner Dr Shena Aggarwal stated that a trial is also going on to issue discount coupons  of different restaurants to the residents who will dump plastic waste in the machines.
 
Inaugurating the machine at the civil hospital, minister Nijjar appealed to the public to dump the plastic waste in the machines and help the administration to reduce plastic pollution, which is affecting the environment and public health at large.
 
Minister further stated that the state government is working to improve solid waste management across the state and these kinds of initiatives will certainly help in achieving the targets.
 
MLA (Ludhiana Central) Ashok Prashar Pappi, MLA (Ludhiana North) Madan Lal Bagga, Additional Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal among others were also present during the inauguration ceremony.
 
MINISTER FLAGS OFF 8 BACKHOE LOADERS:

Earlier in the day, local bodies minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar flagged off eight backhoe loader machines purchased by Municipal Corporation (MC) under Swachh Bharat Mission on Wednesday. 
MLAs Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Madan Lal Bagga, Ashok Prashar Pappi, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu among others also accompanied the minister.
 
While inspecting the machines at Zone D office of MC in Sarabha Nagar, the minister stated that the machines have been purchased with the funds allocated under swachh bharat mission and 15th pay commission. These will be used by different wings of MC in taking up development works and improve cleanliness at ward level. The machines have been purchased at a cost of Rs 2.07 crore.
 
Minister directed the civic body officials to get GPS installed on the machinery so that the authorities  can keep a tab on the working of MC staff.
 
Further he stated that the state government is committed for the development of the state and they are working to improve the infrastructure in civic bodies.