Patna to get plastic waste processing unit soon

PATNA: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated fresh bidding process to rope in a firm for developing a plastic waste processing unit in the city.

PMC deputy municipal commissioner Vishal Anand said there was no system for treatment of plastic waste in the city at present. “Plastic waste is generally dumped at a solid waste landfill site at Ramachak-Bairiya village on Patna-Gaya road. Once the plastic waste processing unit starts functioning, the rural works department can use the plastic waste in construction of roads in rural areas. The plastic bags will be turned into granules and mixed with coal tar to build roads,” Anand said.

Bihar State Pollution Control Board chairman Ashok Kumar Ghosh has also hailed the initiative of the PMC. “People generally burn plastic waste, which releases toxic fumes,such as furans and dioxins. These toxic fumes can cause respiratory and other ailments among people,” Ghosh said.

He said the BSPCB would strictly implement the ban on plastic bags in urban areas of the state from December 15. “Anybody caught using or selling plastic bags will have to pay penalty,” Ghosh said.

People have also hailed the move of the civic body to develop plastic waste treatment facility. Kaushal Kishore, a resident of Kankerbaghm said, “Kankerbagh is one of the most polluted localities in the city. Proper treatment of plastic waste will go a long way in reducing pollution.”