The Punjab government has signed an agreement with a private company to recycle single-use plastic under the Chief Minister’s Green Credits Program.
Using Chinese technology, the company will install machines next month in four major universities in Lahore. These machines will also be set up in local markets and shopping areas.
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Each machine will have two sections. People can press button A, drop a plastic bottle inside, enter their phone number, and then press button B. Green credits will appear on the screen and can also be tracked using a mobile app.
According to the company’s chairman, Gulfam Abid, around 500 tons of plastic bottle waste is produced every day. With this system, bottles and plastic utensils will be recycled and turned into pavement tiles, road patchwork, and bricks.
The scheme offers cash incentives: 20 bottles of 1.5 liters or 40 bottles of half a liter will earn users Rs. 1,000 in instant cash.
Not only regular citizens, but nearly 18,000 scrap dealers in Lahore can also benefit. They’ll connect through the app, and the company will send staff to collect the bottles in exchange for payment.
This program mirrors similar bottle return schemes already active in many European countries.
