Page 34 - Plastics News June 2021

FeAtures

Anjana Ghosh, in her current capacity as Director, has The Marol Plant is India’s first clean plastic collection
been the driving force behind the new image and market and segregation plant that itself is made of recycled
reach of Bisleri Ms. Ghosh has worked relentlessly on the plastic. The interiors of the space have been created using
plastic recycling initiative. The entire ‘Bottles for Change’ 1,50,000 MLP recycled bags as partitions. Also for over
100 sq. ft. area, 100 kgs of recycled hard plastic blocks
have been used to build the entrance ramp which is strong
enough and has the load bearing capacity of up to 30 tons
of vehicles. This plant has the capacity to process and
segregate 25 tons or plastic per month.
Q. What are your views on the PWM
2021 released recently?

The PWM 2021were released just before the second wave
of the pandemic hit the country however, it still needs
program has been conceptualized and put into action clarity as there are many ambiguities. For say that matter
by her. She has pioneered the concept of cleaning and EPR as well, seems to be an eye-wash. It is practically not
segregating plastic after use at source by the consumers possible for any producer to keep a tab on the Plastic they
themselves rather than depending upon government are making, no producer can bring back their own plastics
or city corporations to manage it. Core concept of the they can just help in collecting but cannot necessarily
program says, “Do it yourself, you are responsible for your guarantee the quantity. Also when it comes to the plastic
environment”. This program is very close to her heart and debate, the general consensus is fairly divided into
she is personally involved in driving the program. two groups. While some think that nothing will change
On the occasion of the launch of the new segregation around plastic usage, the others, who are optimists, take
plant Ms Anjana Ghosh discussed various issues with Mr. responsibility and start changing things in bits and pieces.
Padmesh Prabhune, excerpts of the interview: We are doing our work without making any noise.
Q. What goes into making of this Q. What are your views on Banning

segregation Plant? Plastics?
Plastics waste has been a major issue for all of us and Plastics is not meant to be banned in the first place. As
it’s time we need to recycle or so to say rather develop said we are very clear that Plastics is the wonder material.
recycling infrastructure in an organized manner. As we Imagine, how the human race could have survived without
all know recycling is already happening in a big way in Plastic during the Covid pandemic? Majority of the safety
the country but it needs to be organized as well. India gear – the PPE kits, packaging material, face shields, hand
has a robust Recycling industry, there are approx. 8,000 gloves are all made using some form of plastic. It is merely
recycling units across the country. Further to resolve the impossible to distribute food and water without plastic
plastic pollution crisis, it is imperative to not look at containers. The whole problem is all about littering and
plastic as some evil and find solutions that are sustainable waste management.
for the environment. Recycling plastic does exactly that. Q. So.. how does one tackle the menace
We have been working on this plant for the past 3-4 years
and it has finally come up this year. Just to tell you we of littering?
were the first to have installed a small recycling system in This needs to be worked on by creating one, greater
our Mumbai plant way back in called 2001.So our thought awareness among the public at large about the utility
was very clear since then, Plastics is meant for recycling. of plastics and two, adding value to Plastics so that it
Q. What makes the Marol Plant centre doesn’t goes into a waste-bin. Indians have a great value
different from the other plastic system; we don’t throw our clothes, newspaper, personal
belongings like say watch or radio. The moment there is
recycling plants? a value attached to it, people will not throw Plastics.

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