Plastic waste collection centres to be set up at 250 locations in the state

• 14 May 2022

Why In News

• On May 13, 2022, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government informed that with an aim to make the villages free of plastic waste, the state government has planned to set up plastic waste collection centres at 250 locations in the state in the next two years.

Key Point

• The spokesman said that the Panchayati Raj Department is preparing an action plan for selection and construction of sites in the development blocks in the next six months so that garbage plastic collection centres can be set up there.
• In view of the ill-effects of plastic, the state government has taken the initiative to make cities as well as villages plastic-free. Along with this, the government has also planned to use waste plastic for road construction.
• Plastic waste management emphasizes on taking steps to reduce the production of plastic waste, prevent the spread of plastic waste and ensure separate storage for plastic waste.
• Under the new rule, it will be the responsibility of local bodies, gram panchayats, garbage producers, retailers and pavement vendors to manage plastic waste.
• Significantly, plastic is a major cause of pollution, it reduces the groundwater level by destroying the fertility of the land. Its use increases the risk of respiratory and skin diseases as well as cancer. It can also prevent fetal growth.
• The smoke emitted by burning polythene damages the ozone layer, which is a major cause of global warming.