No takers for govt’s buyback mechanism for milk pouches

Pune: Although the State Government has come up with the buyback mechanism for the milk (plastic) pouches, the Maharashtra Milk Producers and Processors Association has decided to oppose this move by the government. According to them, we do not have any infrastructure or mechanism to buyback the milk pouches. Similarly, it was the responsibility of the State to dispose of or recycle the pouches. 

They alleged that State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam had implied buyback mechanism on milk dairies. “We had conducted several meetings with the environment minister to chalk out an action plan to recycle and reuse the milk pouches but nothing was zeroed upon,” said an official of the association.

Meanwhile, the dairy owners of the State have decided to oppose the proposal of the State Government of buyback mechanism and meet Kadam again regarding it. Chairman of Rajarambapu Sahakari Dudh Sangh and President of the Association, Vinayak Patil, said, “Several times we had meetings with Kadam to chalk out a plan to recycle and reuse the milk pouches. But we did not come up with any solutions nor did they suggest us any alternative to milk pouches. Hence we have decided that we will oppose the buyback mechanism norms as we do not have any mechanism to carry it out. And for that, we will be meeting Kadam over it,” Patil added.

Secretary of the Association Prakash Kutwal said, “From 250 milk dairies 173 are registered with the association. On average, around 85 lakh litres of milk is sold through plastic pouches on a daily basis across the State. In Pune, nearly 15 lakh litres of milk is sold daily in plastic pouches. The dairies are not financially stable to set the buyback mechanism, rather we dairies can help the government with the buyback system.”

Former chairman and director of Katraj Dairy Gopal Maske said, “The thickness of polythene used for milk bag was 50 micron until four months back, but now the microns thickness had increased to 58. The government should fund the civic body or gram panchayat to set up a unit for the buyback mechanism. We are not responsible to collect it.” 
Former president of Indian Dairy Association, former chairman and director of Gokul, Arun Narke, said, “If the municipal corporation or gram panchayat is collecting tax, then it was their responsibility to collect the waste and recycle it. If they are denying to do their part then they should not put the blame on the private or co-operative milk dairies union to carry out the same activity.”