City to get reverse vending machines to tackle plastic waste disposal soon

Neha Saini

Tribune news service

Amritsar, January 7

In a step towards smart waste management, the city will soon have reverse vending machines for plastic waste disposal under the Smart City project.

The decision in this regard was taken during a meeting of a city-level technical committee chaired by MC Commissioner Komal Mittal here on Tuesday.

The reverse vending machines will be installed at several public places in the city for effective plastic waste disposal.

“In the first phase, 20 such machines will be installed. The move will encourage people to throw plastic bottles and waste in the machines. As a perk, we will also distribute free food or shopping coupons whenever someone uses the machine,” said Komal Mittal, who approved the tendering process for the project.

Earlier, the MC had installed 10 bottle-crushing machines at various points on the Heritage Street to curb the plastic menace around the Golden Temple. The MC has received Rs5 lakh under the Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) project of the Union Government.

“The tenders will be scrutinised and passed once all requirements are made. The process will be carried out at a fast pace to ensure that the machines are installed in time,” she added.

Besides, it was decided that 24 tourist places in the city will get 29 highly advanced and information kiosks.

The places include Gobindgarh Fort, Heritage Street, Hall Gate, Partition Museum, Gol Bagh, Wagah Border, War Memorial and Museum, Ram Tirth, city airport, railway Station, bus stand, MC office and Durgiana Temple. These kiosks will be designed on the pattern ATMs equipped with the user interface software. The kiosks will give information about hotels, bus and train ticket bookings, schedule timings, routes and emergency contact numbers. Apart from this, these can also register complaints of tourists.