Indore's Sustainable Triumph: Earning EPR Credit Through Single-Use Plastic Recycling

Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has set a new benchmark in waste management by becoming the first urban body in India to earn Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) credit by recycling single-use plastic. The city has already been acknowledged as the cleanest city in the country for several years and has implemented a complete ban on single-use plastic items within the city. The IMC has seized about eight tons of such plastic in the recent past and recycled it at a plant run under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 and EPR policy have been implemented successfully by IMC. The EPR credit demonstrates the successful implementation of these policies. The city produces over 1162 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) every day, and source segregation of waste is done into separate categories: plastic waste, non-plastic waste, e-waste, etc.

To encourage public participation in the drive to eradicate single-use plastic, the Indore Municipal Corporation has run several awareness campaigns. The city has also implemented a unique initiative called "Garbage Cafe," where people can exchange plastic waste for a meal. This initiative has been successful in encouraging people to dispose of plastic waste responsibly.

The IMC has set up a plant to recycle plastic waste under the PPP model. The plant has a capacity to recycle 10 metric tonnes of plastic waste per day. The plant uses a process called pyrolysis, which involves heating the plastic waste in the absence of oxygen to produce fuel oil, carbon black, and gas. The fuel oil produced is used as a substitute for furnace oil, and the carbon black is used as a raw material in the rubber industry.

The IMC has also set up a plastic waste collection center in every ward of the city. The center collects plastic waste from households and commercial establishments. The collected waste is then transported to the recycling plant. The IMC has also tied up with several NGOs to collect plastic waste from various parts of the city.

The success of IMC's waste management initiatives has not gone unnoticed. Several other cities in India have taken inspiration from IMC's initiatives and have implemented similar policies. The IMC has also won several awards for its waste management initiatives.

The Indore Municipal Corporation has set a new benchmark in waste management by becoming the first urban body in India to earn EPR credit by recycling single-use plastic. The city's initiatives to encourage public participation in waste management and its unique initiatives like the "Garbage Cafe" have been successful in creating awareness about responsible waste disposal. The IMC's success has inspired several other cities in India to implement similar policies. The IMC's initiatives are a testament to the fact that with the right policies and initiatives, waste management can be done effectively and efficiently.

References:

1. epr: Indore Municipal Corporation 1st urban body in country to get EPR credit by recycling single-use plastic: Official - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

2. Indore Municipal Corporation to be the first urban body to get EPR credit (adda247.com)

3. Indore Municipal Corporation Leads the Way in Earning EPR Credit for Recycling Single-Use Plastic (thecsruniverse.com)IMC first in country to earn EPR credit | Indore News - Times of India (indiatimes.com)

4. Indore Municipal Corporation 1st urban body in country to get EPR credit by recycling single-use plastic: Official – ThePrint – PTIFeed

5. Indore Municipal Corporation issues Rs 244 crore secured redeemable NCDs - BankExamsToday