Collects 120 tonnes of plastic across the city

The civic body had placed plastic collection bins at 25 locations and had also launched a helpline number wherein they arranged for doorstep collection

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected 120 tonnes of plastic across the city since April. The move was following the state government’s decision to ban non-recyclable and single-use plastic, which will be enforced from June 23 across the state.

Thus far, it has collected 120 tonnes of plastic waste across the city’s 24 administrative wards. The civic body had placed plastic collection bins at 25 locations and had also launched a helpline number wherein they arranged for plastic collection from citizens’ and housing complexes’ doorstep.

BMC ward offices have urged Mumbaikars to get rid of plastic waste by June 23 after which they will start taking punitive action against those who continue using the banned plastic.

Of the 120 tonnes of plastic waste collected by BMC, 108 tonnes were collected through its helpline. So far, the civic body has collected 45 tonnes of plastic waste from Vile Parle, Andheri East and Jogeshwari in K East ward, 34 tonnes from Byculla in E ward, 30 tonnes between Bandra and Santacruz (H-West) and 16 tonnes from Andheri West and Jogeshwari west (K-West).

“The response has been overwhelming as it has been less than a month since the BMC launched the plastic waste pick-up helpline number. More people are expected to come forward in the coming days to get rid of their plastic wastes. We have posted the helpline number on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms which helped us a lot. We have also created awareness among vendors and hawkers,” said Nidhi Choudhari, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special).

The BMC has appealed to residents of housing societies to collect plastic from the flats and call on the helpline number, following which, the civic body will get the waste picked up from their doorstep. “We have also put up a list of women self-help groups manufacturing cloth, jute and paper bags on the BMC website to offer the people an alternative to plastic,” Choudhari said.

The BMC had also organised a ‘rath yatra’ against plastic use across the city citing lack of awareness about the plastic ban from Maharashtra Day. The campaign has already reached out to more than 1.5 lakh people in popular areas such as Versova, Shivaji Park, Khar market, Gorai, Vakola, Churchgate, Dharavi, Deonar Colony and Chembur Naka.