Page 53 - Plastics News September 2017

IN THE NEWS

PET bottles recycling now an Rs Kochi Corporation introduces

3500 crore industry daily collection of plastic waste

ecycling of PET bottles has grown to become a Rs he Kochi city corporation introduced daily
R3,500-crore industry and nearly 70 per cent of PET Tcollection of plastic waste effective September
waste is reprocessed in the country, according to a report 20. Accordingly public can handover dry, cleaned
released recently by the Pune-based National Chemical plastic waste at resource recovery facilities attached
Laboratory that has revealed that close to 70 per cent to aerobic bin units at various places in the city.
of PET bottles get recycled through the organised sector The counters will function from 9 am to 5 pm. Till
in the country. The report, which aimed to answer now corporation used to conduct monthly collection
drives for plastic waste. The health committee is
switching to daily collection drive so as to avoid dealing
with massive quantity of plastic waste and often
unsegregated waste which is brought to counters for
recyclables. Only dry and clean plastic covers, packets
and products will be received at the counters. The
plastic collected at the resource recovery centre will
be taken to shredding unit at Muttathara and will be
handed over to Clean Kerala company.
The corporation also brought out a calendar for
collection of sandals,old bags, glass waste, e-waste,
questions on the afterlife of PET bottles, puts the annual
coconut shell on a periodic basis. Old bags and sandals
PET recycling business in India at an estimated Rs 3,500
will be collected on third Friday,Saturday and Sunday
crore. Initiated by Pet Packaging Association for Clean
during the months of January,April, July and October.
Environment (PACE), the scope of this project was to
Glass waste will be collected on second Saturday and
understand the PET recycling scenario in the country.
Sunday during the months of February, May, August
P.C Joshi, General Secretary PACE, said,” We initiated
this project in 2016, to develop a robust, ground-level
understanding of how PET recycling happens in India and
to document the fi ndings through a website and a report.
“The study has revealed that 70 per cent of PET waste in
India is recycled. It also found that, of the 900-kilo tonnes
of PET made in India annually, 65 per cent is recycled at
registered facilities, 15 per cent in the unorganised sector
and 10 per cent is reused at homes,” Joshi said.
PET is one of the most widely used plastics for packaging
applications. Apart from being food safe, what makes
PET a popular choice is the fact that it is also strong,
lightweight, transparent and shatter-resistant. Moreover, and November. Special counters will be opened on fi rst
PET’s qualities as an effective barrier to carbon dioxide, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the months of June
combined with transparency, makes it one of the most and December for the collection of e-waste.Coconut
popular choices for packaging of food around the world. shells and tree branches can be handed over on the
fourth Fridays, Saturday and Sunday during all months.

53 September 2017 | Plastics News