Patna, February 24 (ABN) Under the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, the Department of Rural Development is undertaking a unique initiative for plastic waste management in Aurangabad. As part of this initiative, plastic waste collected at Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMU) set up under the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan is being recycled with the help of a private organization to produce plastic bricks and tiles. This effort is not only promoting environmental protection but also generating employment opportunities and boosting local industry.

Plastic waste pollutes the environment and has a negative impact on public health. Under the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMU) are operational in Aurangabad, Daudnagar, and Nabinagar blocks in Aurangabad district. Here, plastic waste collected from door-to-door garbage collection in gram panchayats under the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, as well as plastic waste collected from urban areas and local kabadiwalas, is brought together. The plastic waste is then sorted into different categories and its value is enhanced using machines such as destoner, shredder, and baler.

Under an agreement between the Block Project Management Unit of the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan and Savitri Renewable Energy Private Limited, single-use and multi-layer plastic waste processed at the Plastic Waste Management Units is being recycled into plastic tiles and bricks by Savitri Renewable Energy Private Limited.

In Aurangabad, Daudnagar, and Nabinagar blocks, plastic waste is sorted at the waste management units. Single-use plastic and multi-layer plastic are cleaned and cut into small pieces, which are then powdered. The powder is heated and mixed with sand in a 60:40 ratio. This mixture is then molded into plastic bricks or tiles as needed.

Ajit Sharan, District Coordinator, Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan, Aurangabad, said that plastic waste collected from gram panchayats is cleaned, sorted, and converted into flakes and slabs at the Plastic Waste Management Unit, which are then purchased by Savitri Renewable Energy Private Limited to produce plastic tiles. This has promoted private industry, created employment opportunities, and strengthened sanitation and environmental protection. Recycling plastic waste to produce pure blocks and bricks has also helped reduce the growing pile of plastic waste.

Atul Kumar, CEO and founder of Savitri Renewable Energy Private Limited, said that they produce blocks from single-use plastic and multi-layer plastic, while selling hard plastic to further recyclers, ensuring that plastic waste is completely recycled.