A new eco-friendly initiative aimed at tackling plastic pollution by incentivizing citizens to recycle used plastic bottles has been launched in Lahore, it was revealed on Monday.
Residents who participate in the program can deposit empty plastic bottles into Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and receive up to Rs1,000 in “Green Credit” for each kilogram of plastic, or about 20 1.5-liter bottles.
The project is a component of Punjab’s Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Credit Program and is headed by ISP Environmental Solutions with assistance from the Intratech Group and the World Bank. By providing financial incentives in return for used plastic, the project seeks to revolutionize the management and perception of urban waste.
According to Gulfam Abid, chairperson of the Intratech Group, Lahore generates roughly 500 tons of plastic waste every day, much of which contaminates landfills and waterways.
He clarified, “These new Reverse Vending Machines will collect single-use plastic items, such as bottles, cups, and plates.”
“The gathered material will be recycled into raw materials for environmentally friendly bricks, sidewalks, and road repairs.”
Each RVM has weight-sensitive sensors that reject non-plastic materials and can hold up to 25 kg of plastic.
To see their credit information on the screen, users only need to place the bottles into the appropriate slot, press button “A,” input their mobile number, and press button “B.” Additionally, a specialized mobile application provides access to the same data.
