The Hindu 09.01.2015
Collection at plastic waste centre picks up
Plastic and dry waste collection centre has opened at Kadri market in Mangaluru.— Photo: H.S. Manjunath
Plastic carry bags fetch a maximum of Rs. 20 per kg and
plastic bottles up to Rs. 12 per kg at the plastic waste and dry waste
collection centre opened at Mallikatta three weeks ago.
Canara
Plastic Manufacturers’ and Traders Association and the Mangaluru City
Corporation have opened the centre at the entrance of the vegetable
market on a pilot basis.
According to the president
of the association B.A. Nazeer, the corporation provided the land for
the centre, which is a small shop, and the association was maintaining
it through outsourcing.
150kg per day
Saul Hameed, who is in charge of the centre, told
The Hindu
that it collected about 150 kg of plastic waste material and dry waste daily.
It
included about 80 kg to 100 kg of plastic waste covers and plastic
bottles and the remaining dry waste included waste papers. The centre
attracted about 15 to 20 persons daily.
The centre which started functioning from December 12 is open throughout the week and it collects waste from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On Fridays it is closed for a brief period during noon, he said.
Mr.
Hameed said that recently two persons from Vamanjoor brought their
waste and normally people from Kadri brought the waste materials.
High
quality carry bags fetched up to Rs. 20 a kg and low quality ones up to
Rs. 15 a kg. Waste plastic bottles fetched from Rs. 10 a kg to Rs. 12 a
kg.
More centres planned
Mr.
Nazeer said that if the response of the people continued, at least five
more centres would be opened in different parts of the city to prevent
people from dumping waste plastic materials in public places.
A
corporation official said that if people segregated waste at houses and
kept plastic materials separately it would help in collecting
segregated waste from door steps and strengthen the door to door
collection of waste in the city. They could sell the plastic materials
stored to the centre or centres.
High quality carry bags will fetch up to Rs. 20 a kg
Low quality bags will fetch up to Rs. 15 a kg
Waste plastic bottles will fetch up to Rs. 12 a kg