Page 76 - Plastics News July 2019

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Kerala to make tourist destinations Kochi’s local bodies set to break

Plastic, waste-free new ground in plastic disposal

ontributing to the initiative to make Kerala ‘totally s many as 16 local bodies in Ernakulam will be fully
Cgreen’, the Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission is Aequipped to collect, manage, and dispose of plastic
initiating a waste-free project to reduce use of plastics waste scientifically by the end of this year. The local
and introduce green certification for tourism destinations. bodies identified for development as model panchayats
Being rolled out as part of it environmental responsibility, in plastic waste management are Chottanikkara,
Varapetti, Puthrika, Mulanthuruthy, Edakkatuvayal,
Rayamangalam, Pambakuda, Kalady, North Paravur,
Eloor, Ramamangalam, Amballur, Thirumaradi,
Udayamperoor, Maradu, and Kothamangalam. The
drive is jointly initiated by the local bodies concerned
in association with Haritha Keralam Mission, Suchitwa
Mission, and Clean Kerala Company.“The idea is
to have a multi-pronged approach that will ensure
collection, storage, and transportation of waste for
the recycling industry. We have started imparting
one of the basic components of RT, the Clean Kerala
Initiative (CKI) will initially be introduced in nine key training to Kudumbashree workers involved in the
destinations with the support of the Kerala Travel Mart collection of plastic waste in segregating it based on
Foundation, local bodies, and others. The local bodies the type and material,” said Sujith Karun, district co-
identified for development as model institutions for ordinator, Haritha Keralam Mission.The initial focus will
management of solid waste have to follow the green be on shredding various types of plastic waste brought
protocol. Green volunteers have to ensure door-to-door to the material collection facilities. The approach
collection of plastic waste. Besides user fee collection for has been given a
waste management, the local bodies should come up with shift with focus on
projects for viability gap funding while implementing the segregating waste.
projects. The use of plastic bags below 50 microns should “Kudumbashree
be prohibited. Local bodies will have to amend their workers now sort
bylaws in tune with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, plastic based on
2018 and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Kovalam; various factors. It
Munnar; Alappuzha, including Alappuzha backwaters, is also beneficial
Muhamma and Marari Beach; Kumarakom; Fort Kochi; to the recycling
Wayanad; Kollam; Bekal; and Thekkady figure in the first indus tr y and
phase. With the Working Group on Tourism clearing the vendors who always
project, the government has given the administrative look out for value-
sanction for Rs 70 lakh for the 2019-20 financial year. As addition to plastic,”
much as 55 loads of plastic waste has been removed from Mr. Karun added. The comprehensive segregation
the lake. The RT Mission also played a key role in replacing process has already started at Chottanikkara, Puthrika,
plastic straws with ones made of coconut fronds or bamboo and Varapetti. The government-run Clean Kerala
in Thekkady and introducing glass bottles at resorts in Company has set up a district-level warehouse for
Kumarakom and Thekkady. A set of guidelines and road collection of plastic waste. However, officials said
map will be prepared with the help of experts with focus the facility would not be a dumping yard for plastic
on proper waste management, organic farming, rainwater waste collected by local bodies. Segregation and
harvesting, use of renewable energy, reduction of plastic transportation of plastic waste for recycling should
use, and alike. Kerala Tourism will support the initiative mostly be done at the material recovery facility under
by installing CCTV cameras, reverse osmosis plants and each local body.
plastic shredding machines at the destinations.

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