The Punjab government has joined hands with a private company to start a new plastic bottle recycling project in Lahore. It offers cash rewards to people in exchange for used plastic bottles. This initiative is part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Green Credits Program. The purpose of this project is to reduce plastic waste and promote eco-friendly habits.
Recycling Units Coming to Campuses and Commercial Areas
The new locally built recycling machines powered by Chinese technology will be installed next month at:
- Four major universities
- Several busy commercial zones across the city
These smart machines will allow users to drop plastic bottles and instantly earn green credits or cash as a reward.
How the Recycling Machine Works
Using the machine is very simple:
- Press Button A
- Insert the plastic bottle
- Enter your mobile number
- Press Button B
Your earned credits will be displayed on the screen. You can also track them through a mobile app made specifically for this project.
How Much Can You Earn from Recycling Machine
According to Gulfam Abid chairman of the partnering company:
- Lahore produces nearly 500 tons of plastic bottle waste every day.
- The collected bottles will be recycled into bricks, tiles, and road materials.
- People can earn up to Rs. 1,000 by:
- Submitting 20 bottles of 1.5-liter size or
- 40 bottles of 0.5-liter size
- Submitting 20 bottles of 1.5-liter size or
Even local scrap collectors (kabariyas) can join the app and get cash pickups for their bottles.
Punjab Moving Towards a Plastic Free Future
CM Maryam Nawaz shared a powerful message on International Plastic Bag Free Day:
“Plastic bags may seem useful, but they are extremely harmful for our land, air, rivers, and health.”
She added:
- Plastic remains in the environment for hundreds of years
- It reduces soil fertility, blocks drainage systems and kills marine life
- It can even cause cancer and serious diseases
To fight this, Punjab is:
- Promoting the use of cloth and paper bags
- Enforcing strict environmental laws on shops and factories
- Running awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and communities
