Aafrin Kidwai 
Dairies in Pune have expressed their willingness to set up plants to recycle plastic pouches if the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) makes land available to them. The Indian Express reports that discussions on the issue are underway between the Milk Producers and Processors Welfare Association and PMC.
In 2018, the Maharashtra government had banned single use plastic bags, putting the onus on dairies to collect and recycle used pouches. Dairies were asked to set up a buyback policy for pouches from consumers. However, dairies told the government that there were several problems in the system, including lack of storage place and required know-how to handle used pouches.
Every day, 3 lakh litres of milk is sold in plastic pouches in Pune and at least 7 tonnes of these pouches end up in landfills.
Most dairies said they are planning to rope in wastepickers’ association SWaCH to collect and segregate plastic pouches since customers were wary of storing or selling used pouches.
Picture Credit: Sarbjit Bahga, Goshala at Chandigarh, CC BY-SA 4.0
