Mumbai: Over 150 MT banned plastic lying in godown, no clarity on disposal

Though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already collected around 150 metric tonnes of banned plastic, there is no mechanism available to dispose them off. The civic body is currently exploring ways to dispose of plastic waste.

As per the provision, the collected plastic waste has to be given to only those organisations who can scientifically recycle or dispose it of. However, no such organisation exists in Mumbai.

Following the June 23 deadline to implement its strict plastic ban policy, the civic body had carried out an extensive drive against plastic and formed various teams to conduct raids at various places. Over 100 shops which were found using plastic was imposed with a fine.

Through collection centres, the civic body had collected over 1.4 lakh kg of plastic from across the city. And, in the last ten years, the Shop and Establishment department of BMC had seized around 85,164 kg plastic bags below 50 microns which were lying in the godown.

Even today, around 37 collection centres of BMC is operational where residents can deposit banned plastic.

As per the law, 10 per cent of seized plastic must be used for the construction of bituminous or asphalt roads. But, the BMC is yet to work out any plan for the same.

As per the notification of state government, plastic collected will be stored in dry waste collection centre of BMC.

Nidhi Chaudhary, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special) said that as per the state government notification, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will depute organisations expert in managing plastic waste for the job.

A senior official from BMC's SWM said that mechanical recycling is the only widely adopted technology for the large-scale treatment of plastic solid waste. "The main steps include removal of organic residue through washing, followed by shredding, melting, and remolding of the polymer, which is often blended with virgin plastic of the same type to produce a material with suitable properties for manufacturing," said the official.

RECYCLE WOES

• The BMC had seized around 85,164 kg plastic bags below 50 microns which are lying in godown 
   
• The collected plastic waste has to be given to organisations which can scientifically recycle or dispose it of 
   
• However, no such organisation exists in the city