Dairy owners demand land from PMC for milk pouch disposal plant

PUNE: The Maharashtra Milk Producers and Processors Association (MMPPA) have submitted a proposal to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) demanding land for setting up a plant for recycling used milk pouches. Earlier, the association was opposing buy-back proposal -- a system where dairies will purchase used milk pouches from the consumers. However, now, it has changed its stance.

Prakash Kutwal, Secretary, MMPPA said, “As our duty towards the environment, we have decided to take the responsibility for recycling plastic pouches.”

Kutwal added that they are planning to have collection centres where the consumers can return washed milk pouches and the dairy owners can collect them from these shops. 

“We have also proposed in a letter to the PMC regarding the requirement for land to set up the plant for recycling,” he said.

The association members met PMC’s Department of Solid Waste Management’s head Dnyaneshwar Molak on Monday and demanded land to set up the processing plant. Kutwal said, “We are ready to bear the expense of setting up the plant but we need land to set it up and we have proposed it to PMC.” 

Molak told Sakal Times that as per the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR), it is the responsibility of milk producers to dispose of plastic milk pouches and it is good that they are taking this responsibility. “They have demanded land for seting up of a plant to recycle the plastic and we are positive about it. However, there will be a meeting of dairy owners on July 8 with Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao and the final call will be taken in then,” Molak said.

‘AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT’
- The Maharashtra Milk Producers and Processors Association has decided to abide by State government’s buy-back proposal but has said that awareness among consumers is very important for it to be a success. 
- We have finally come to the conclusion that there is no alternative apart from buy-back mechanism, Kutwal said. 
- He said it is important to strengthen it by creating awareness among the consumers by motivating them and not just a 50-60 paisa subsidy on returning used milk packets. 
- The association is working on awareness strategies.