Country's First three Polythene Garbage Banks opened in Doon | 26 Sep 2023

Why In News?

On September 25, 2023, the country's first three polythene garbage banks have been established by the Dehradun Cantt Board of Uttarakhand for the disposal of polythene waste, one of which, the garbage bank located at Garhi, was inaugurated by the state's Urban Development Minister Premchand Aggarwal.

Key Points:

• Two polythene waste banks have been opened in Garhi in Dehradun and the third in Premnagar.
• This is the first such bank in the country, which will clean the dirt from homes, roads, as well as become a medium of income. Polythene will be collected from this bank and sent further, from which decorative items like tiles, boards, pots etc. will be made.
• In these collection centers, polythene waste such as bags, chips wrappers, packing bags, plastic cutters, bread wrappers etc. will be purchased at the rate of Three rupees per kg.
• Polythene waste banks will be made operational this week at Bindal Chowki, Dairy Farm in Garhi and Special Wing in Premnagar. The bank aims to purchase a minimum of 70 tonnes and a maximum of 100 tonnes of polythene waste every month.
• Abhinav Singh, CEO of The Cantt Board, said that at present, polythene bags, chips wrappers, packing bags, plastic cutters, etc. are kept in the category of low value plastic. They have no buyers and no markets. Waste pickers also pick up plastic bottles, glass, etc. but do not take polythene bags, chips wrappers, etc. The polythene waste bank will solve this problem.
• On behalf of the Cantonment Board, the Cantonment Council organized a polythene and e-waste collection competition among the RWAs (Resident Welfare Association) of the military area, the winners of which were also honored by the Urban Development Minister.