Green initiative Govt launches drive to reduce plastic waste

In view of the ban imposed on the use of small water bottles up to 500 ml with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a widely used thermoplastic polymer, particularly known for its use in food and beverage packaging, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has directed officials of the departments concerned to increase widespread public awareness regarding the order so that people can be made aware about it.

During a review meeting held on Monday evening, he said the decision had been taken in view of the damage caused to the environment by the plastic in the state.

During the meeting, he also obtained detailed information about the steps being taken in this direction from all the departments concerned and directed them to ensure strict compliance with the environmental protection norms.

Later, Saxena chaired a meeting, mandating keeping of garbage bins in public and private transport, and taxis in the state. “The state government has made it mandatory to keep garbage bins in all types of tourist vehicles, public and private transport and taxi services. In this regard, Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) officials said garbage bins had been installed in all government buses. Instructions have also been issued to collect plastic waste during the cleaning of buses at bus stands and workshops.

Apart from this, necessary steps have been taken for the collection of plastic waste in HRTC-approved dhabas.

He also directed the officials of the Transport Department to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines issued regarding garbage bins in private transport taxis, including tourist vehicles coming to the state.

He also directed officials to take necessary steps towards the collection of plastic waste in taxi stands as well as in urban and rural areas to the departments concerned so that the set targets could be achieved.

Apart from this, he also chaired a meeting organised by the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change to discuss the current status and various aspects of implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP).

He also issued necessary guidelines in this regard. During the meeting, he said the state government was committed to working towards environmental protection and that concrete steps were being taken in this direction. “The successful implementation of ERP will strengthen plastic waste management in the state and also prove helpful in protecting the environment,” he said.

Himachal Tribune