In one of the major initiatives to promote waste management in the state of Tamil Nadu, the Udhagamandalam municipality has announced a new initiative in partnership with the India Tobacco Company (ITC).
Under this initiative the company and the municipality will reward the conservancy workers with Rs. 3 per kg of recyclable waste. The amount will be deposited in their bank account.
This is not the first such initiative in the state. Similar practices have been followed in places like Coimbatore and Gudalur.
Municipal Commissioner K. Sivakumar said the objective of this initiative was source segregation and recycling. It would keep the town litter free and help increase the earnings of conservancy workers.
The effort is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility activities of the ITC, said the company’s manager, Feroze Munshi.
Proper management of dry wastes like paper, card board, soft drink cans, plastic bags and bottles, milk sachets, tooth paste tubes, and chocolate wrappers could protect the environment including the soil.
Udhagamandalam generated about 40 tonnes of waste everyday, Sivakumar added. Dry recyclable waste accounted for 20 percent.
The move was welcomed by Council chairman K. Sathyabama who urged people’s cooperation.