Doorstep collection of plastic waste on cards

Mumbai: The civic authorities are planning a dial-a-doorstep collection service to ease the pain of the proposed plastic ban on the public.

Mumbaikars can dial the collection service on a toll-free helpline and the municipal vehicle will arrive to pick up the plastic waste from, a top official said.

For the implementation of plastic ban, the civic body has decided to start a special helpline, which is likely to be operational next week, said the official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“We are in the process of registering the toll-free helpline number, which will take few days. Once the registration is done, the helpline will be made open for public,” the official said.

“People can ask the BMC to collect plastic waste by dialing the number. We are planning to assign separate vehicles for each 24 administrative wards to collect trash by visiting the housing societies.”

The civic body has also identified 25 public places across the city including the Gateway of India, Fashion Street and Girgaum Chowpatty where collection bins have been installed.

“Though collection bins have been installed at these places, we feel that collecting banned plastic from citizens’ houses would be more useful for the effective implementation of the ban,” said the official.

According to civic officials, the ban thrust is on three things — plastic carry bags, thermocol and disposable cutlery.

Civic activists have said the BMC should provide alternatives to plastic bags. “Cloth, paper or jute bags should also be made available as an alternative to plastic bags,” said civic activist Nikhil Desai.