WeCare Society (Waste Efficient Collection & Recycling Efforts) is a coalition of Producers and Brand-owners to enhance collection and recycling of Multi-Layered Plastics across India.WeCare joined hands with Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB)and laid foundation of India’s first successful MLP specific EPR Model purely based on Private Public Partnership (PPP) model for Punjab with a theme “Swach Punjab – Swasth Punjab”.
- This model PPP Model demonstrates participation of Industry and State Government under one roof and has proven that if all stakeholders(Industry, Regulatory Agencies, Waste Collection agency & Local NGO’s) work together they can successfully implement Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) as defined under PWM Rule 2016, amended 2018.
- On 2ndJanuary 2018 under Punjab Society Act 1957, PPCB & WeCare team laid the foundation of “Punjab Plastic Waste Management Society (PPWMS)”as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for collection, transportation&safe disposal/management of multi-layered plastic waste till end of its life in Punjab State with the following objectives:
- To increase the collection and segregation rate of post consumers MLP waste.
- To develop a sustainable supply chain for the handling and processing of post-consumer MLP waste.
- To build up a network for waste pickers/waste dealers/traders/aggregators for collection and segregation of post-consumer MLP waste in the state of Punjab.
- To encourage people to participate in source segregation of waste for betterment of our environment.
- Improving the sanitary condition of Punjab through efficient waste management approach.
- Under PPP (Private Public Partnership) Model,Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB)was the first Founding Member in PPWMS and contributed approx. Rs 50 Lakhs to conceive this concept and to give a confidence to all Producers and Brandowners. Further, all key members (Founding & Associate) got registered under PPWMS with some agreed refundable/adjustable caution fee.
- PPWMS consists, beside the State authorities, 48 PIBOs(PepsiCo India, Perfetti Van Melle, Nestlé India, Dabur India, HUL, ITC Ltd. DharampalSatyapal, Haldiram, Hector Beverages, Patanjali, Godrej Consumer Products, Tata Consumercare , Cremica, among others) having operations only in the StatePunjab.
- The whole Project/Process is being monitored by Local Urban Body and regulated by PPCB officials on defined frequency.
- The whole project is being audited through External Third party Audit Agency to maintain highest level of standards and governance.
- On 13th sept 2018, WeCare submitted a five year EPR Plan (2018 -2023)for MLP collections maximum upto 95%by 2023. Agreed targets were1100 MT in first year and 5300 MT in Fifth Year.
- On 2nd October 2018, launched EPR Project Swacch&Swasth Punjab at Amritsar in presence of Env. Minister and proposed a scheme including:
- Create awareness amongst rag pickers to collect MLP through trainings & distribution of printed materials
- Organized post-consumer Plastic Waste collection drive under the guidance of PPCB which witnessed enthusiastic participation of School Children, Govt. Employees, community etc.
- Collection of the MLP waste by the rag pickers
- Segregation, recovery and processing of the MLP waste at collection centers
- Final Disposal in Cement Kilns, Waste to Energy and Pyrolysis as approved by CPCB
- PPWMS team decided on the waste management criteria and developed stringent SOPs for inviting the collection partners
- A tender was floated by PPWMS to call for collection partners/agencies meeting specified criteria, and best/most cost effective agency was chosen as M/s. IPCA.
- In second yearitself, through our collection partner/PRO-IPCA, the PPWMS collected more than 5000 metric tons ofMulti-Layer Plastic from various cities of Punjabsurpassing even the 3rd year target.
- Now this successful conceptis entering in its third year of execution.
- Few other states like, TN, UP, UK is also studying this model and soon they may rollout similar model in their state.
The Punjab PPP model shows how a successful and transparent waste collection program in a state like HP could be evolved.
