Over 9,500 bottles recycled in just two months: GPCB's innovative campaign to make Gujarat plastic-free
Aug 22, 2024
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 22: In a groundbreaking initiative to combat plastic pollution, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has launched an innovative campaign to make Gujarat plastic-free. The campaign features two key components: cloth bag vending machines and plastic bottle reverse vending machines.
GPCB revealed that over 9,500 bottles have been recycled by reverse vending machines in two months.
It is reported that reverse vending machines for plastic bottles have been installed at seven major bus stands and one railway station. These machines have already recycled over 9,500 bottles in just two months.
In other similar efforts, reverse vending machines for plastic bottles have been set up at seven major bus stands across the state--Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, and Bharuch.
Apart from the bus stands, the Udhna railway station in Surat has also got a reverse vending machine installed on the premises. The machines were launched on World Environment Day on June 5, 2024.
Devotees visiting prominent temples across Gujarat can now access reusable cloth bags from vending machines, similar to ATMs, by paying just Rs 5 per bag.
This initiative has already seen significant success, with over 5,000 bags sold within 60 days at 14 machines installed at temples like Ambaji, Somnath, and Dwarka. This initiative aims to provide people with easy access to reusable cloth bags.
The initiative is aimed at making sure that devotees can receive their 'prasad' in an eco-friendly cloth bag. The initiative has received a positive response from devotees across the temples.
There are also plans underway to install similar machines at 250 Amul Parlour outlets across the state within the next month.
"We have strategically installed Vending Machines to reduce plastic bag usage and promote cloth bags, making eco-friendly options more accessible and beneficial for everyone," said RB Barad, Chairman of GPCB.
This campaign marks a significant step towards a plastic-free Gujarat, encouraging citizens to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint.
