No one collects plastic waste at dairy outlets

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two months have elapsed since Visakha Dairy took up the initiative to provide plastic collection bins in their units located in and around the city. However, retailers are hardly satisfied and feel that a proper mechanism needs to be adopted for the process of collection and segregation and there is also need to spread awareness among people to reduce the generation of plastic waste. When TOI visited one of the retail outlets in the city, a bin full of plastic waste was found, consisting primarily of used milk pouches. The bin had attracted a swarm of flies and was emanating a foul smell. On being asked, the retailer said, “Although the bins have been placed, collection is not being done. Plastic pouches pile up in two to three days and the foul smell spreads to our outlet.”The retailer further said, “We waited for a week for the concerned person to collect the plastic waste. Since no one turned up, we were left with no option but to dispose the waste along with garbage. The purpose of segregating plastic waste got defeated.” Another bin was found to not have its lid on. On being asked why the lid on the bin was not put, another retailer said, “If the lid is put, people do not open it and throw it in the bin. Instead, they litter the road. Hence, the bin is left open so that used pouches are thrown in it. We give away the waste to the sanitary staff who come to collect.”Speaking to TOI, managing director of Visakha Dairy, SV Ramana said, “We have tied up with Waves India— an NGO which will process the plastic waste after collecting it from retail outlets. From September 3 onwards, plastic waste from all retail outlets will be collected regularly and processed. Since the project was launched on a pilot basis, we are working on the lacunae in the process.” Adding that 1,000 more bins will be placed in the outlets in a month, Ramana said that depending on the amount of waste collected, a sum of Rs 20 per kg will be given to the retailers to encourage them to senstitise people about segregating plastic waste.