ITC, PMC and Swach launch multi-layer plastic collection programme in Pune

Chitranjan Dar, head of projects, EHS and quality assurance, ITC, said, “With this ITC- Swach-PMC partnership for the city of Pune, we are taking yet another step in building a model which goes beyond segregation of solid waste, to addressing one of the acute challenges of managing and recycling of the mounting MLP waste. We, along with our partners, are looking forward to expanding the programme to cover the entire city of Pune in near future.”

The programme was launched on the world environment day.  And in its first phase, the programme will operate a state-of-the-art waste processing facility in Uruli Devachi, Pune, which has a capacity to manage 200-metric tonnes of MLP waste per month.

In addition to it, the programme will create an additional income stream to over 3,500 waste collectors. Harshad Barde, general secretary of the waste picker union, KKPKP, said, “This initiative will directly impact waste pickers by creating value financially, whilst benefitting the environment.”  

Explaining about the process, Dar said, “The value realisation from applications like recycling is made possible as this waste is segregated at source and the value which gets transferred to the waste collector in the form of incremental income, over and above the proceeds from the sale of other recyclables.” 

The model enables a collection of quality MLP waste straight from the source which opens up multiple avenues for its end use, including recycling and involves a price for MLP waste which creates an incentive for the waste collectors to collect and sort MLP waste as a separate stream.

Further, the entire supply chain is set up to transfer the waste from collection points across the city to an MLP hub, where, the aggregated MLP waste is further sorted, baled and shipped to a recycling partner.

DS Molak, joint commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation (SWM), said, “The initiative presents a new approach towards providing a step-by-step solution and energising the waste collection chains with a specific focus on MPL which will go a long way in protecting the environment.”

According to Dar, ITC's initiatives in solid waste management of which plastic waste management is a significant component, aim at providing a 360 degrees solution framework to address the critical issue of waste management through packaging optimisation, resource conservation, recycling of waste generated in its operations, source segregation, collection, reuse and recycling.

Sarthak Tapasvi from Swach said, “The model introduces a price for the MLP waste which creates an incentive for the waste collectors to collect and sort MLP waste as a separate stream. This programme ensures a direct linkage between the citizens, the waste-pickers, and the recyclers, with potential for city-wise scale through replication.”

Mangal Umap, a Swach member, claims that she has already diverted 160 kg of MLP waste in the first effort of the programme.

The model enables scaling up the MLP recycling initiative by setting up additional hubs. As a part of which, ITC is working with a local recycling partner named Shakti Plastics by offering technical support and sharing practices for a better value realisation from recycling MLP.