Page 69 - Plastics News May 2017

IN THE NEWS

Plastic’s bus stop in Hyderabad Most Keralites dispose plastic

by burning says Survey
ecycling plastic bottles is not a new concept but a
Rbus stop built of recycled drinking water bottles is ore than half of the population in Kerala is aware
catching everyone’s attention in a colony road in Uppal. Mof ill-effects of burning plastic, but a major share
A firm associated with the GHMC had bought 1,000 of Keralites dispose useless plastic by burning, according
discarded plastic drinking water bottles an-d built the to a survey conducted by Kerala state literacy mission
bus shelter, the first of its kind in the city. The bus stop authority. The survey covered 24 areas including waste,
has no seating arrangements. Two key artisans S. Jattaiah agriculture, pollution, health and water conservation.
and T. Bhoomaiah, worked 15 days, using 1,000 one-litre
plastic drinking water bottles to build the 8-feet by 4-feet
bus shelter at Swaroopnagar colony, street number 10, at
Uppal division. “This spot has been a bus stop area for
years. However, several requests made to the GHMC circle
office to install a shelter went in vain. So, without the
GHMC permission,
we set up this
knockdown model, It was conducted across local bodies in the state in
13,284 households and 42,228 people participated in
so that in case the
the survey. The survey results indicate that burning
GHMC insists on its
of plastic continues unabated in the state. 44.65%
rem-oval, it can be
of population burn used plastic while 30.56% throw
relocated. Instead,
it outside and 24.79% abandon plastic waste on their
they have responded
house premises.
positively,” said
Prashanth Lingam, resident of Swaroopnagar, who funded This unscientific disposal of plastic waste happens in a
the bus shelter. Artisan S. Jattaian said, “Around 1,000 state where only 38.57% are unaware of health hazards
regular, one-litre plastic drinking water bottles were related to burning of plastic. 88.37% people use plastic
purchased from a scrap dealer in Bhoiguda, at `1.40 per carrybags and other plastic products. Only 11.63%
bottle. The bottles were drilled, and a rope ran through people do not use plastic in the state. The recycling
them. The frame is made of metal, but even the roofing campaigns being conducted by local bodies have a long
has been made of the pep bottles.” Being made of plastic way to go as only 5.52% people give used plastic for
recycling in the state.
drinking water bottles, the makers were worried about
the plastic melting. Thus, th-ey kept checking the bottles The status is not much better for household waste
every day. either. 32.32% people leave their household waste on

“The residents have liked it, however they said it is so house premises. 26.30% people throw away waste in far
small. Also, heat has touched 43 degree, and we keep off places. 12.50% people burn household waste. The
checking the condition of the bottles whether it’s melting. state which has been advocating decentralised waste
They stay intact. There is a lot of gap between the bottles. management has got its task cut out going by the figures
There is constant air flow in all directions.” The bottles are of the survey. 14.38% people process waste using biogas
not sealed and there’s no difference with the increasing plants while pipe compost is used by 6.77% and aerobic
temperatures.” The bottles are not sealed and there’s no compost by 6.52%. Around 65% people still dump waste
difference with the increasing temperatures.” either on their own plots or on other plots.

69 May 2017 | Plastics News