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BMC's plan to reuse seized plastic to make seats, trash cans and school supplies are still in limbo, and 4,148 kg of plastic have been sitting idle in BMC warehouses for a while now. Teams from the licensing department visited marketplaces, businesses, and establishments after the civic body relaunched its campaign against prohibited plastic on July 1 in order to seize prohibited plastic.
Afterward, the material was put in storage facilities while a policy choice on disposal or recycling was made. After the government permitted the use, storage, trading, distribution, and transit of all single-use throwaway objects, however, civic activity slowed down.
The civic authority has decided to invite a tender and has chosen to reopen discussions with a few NGOs interested in recycling this plastic waste.
"We had conversations with a couple of NGOs, but the plan fizzled out. We are still considering our alternatives and will get to work on it soon," a Senior Municipal Official said. Up till February of this year, the BMC prosecuted 22 offenders and amassed a fine of Rs. 45.25 lacks. Shop owners that use prohibited plastic are subject to fines ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000 per offense.
