Swachhta Kendras (Plastic Material Recovery Facility)
The Swachhta Kendras (SKs) are defined in the project as an integrated handling facility for recovery and recycling all types of plastic waste; which is collected with support from the City Municipal Corporation (CMC) or equivalent, bulk generators and by the Implementing Partners (IPs) in the project in every city. The low-grade, thin plastic litter, bags, multilayered plastics will also be collected through the waste pickers (Safai Sathi’s) in the allotted areas/wards in the city.
The thin plastic, including all types of multi layered and styrofoam will be accepted at the SKs.
As required the project has set up a pilot in every city with support from the CMC. Largely, 4-5 MTs of plastic waste is being segregated, and value is added every day at each of the SKs. The value addition is being done on the collected plastic waste on the parameter of thickness, which is then re-processed (e.g. shredding, bailing, etc.) as per the end use requirement by the back-end recyclers (BERs).
Setting up the SKs
Implementing Partner (IP) who acts as an aggregator largely will ensure :
Land area equivalent to 2500 sq meters allocated for establishing the SKs on lease basis from the CMC/Equivalent supported by the project.
Low-cost platform, covered shed and the necessary room, sanitary needs to be created for the management of the operations at the Swachhta Kendra.
Plant and machinery needs to be installed, supported from the CMC/equivalent.
Trainings & capacity building for the IPs and the waste collectors working on it - in the use, upkeep and maintenance of machines. Project provides technical support.
All legal sanctions for the implementation of the SKs procured from the State Pollution Control Board; CMCs and related authorities, supported by the project.
Insurance for plant and machinery; persons working to be undertaken by the IP.
Requirements met with the concerned departments to register SKs as an institutional body under the MSME departments of the state/centre.
All operations to ensure economic viability of the Swachhta Kendra as a revenue model.
An end to end digital waste traceability maintained through the technology support; trainings.
An end to end digital waste traceability maintained through the technology support; trainings.
Requisite contracts, agreements done with back-end recyclers, City Municipal Commissioners / Municipalities / State Pollution Control Boards etc. for transport, and pick of waste.
Process of Implementation
Consideration will be given to development of innovative methods for mechanical recycling/upcycling; including improved segregation into 07 different types of plastic wastes as per Solid Waste Managment Rules 2016.
SKs would ensure better rates are paid by recyclers to the NGO/Institution and the waste pickers per/kg of plastic waste.
Plastic Waste Collection Area for the SK.
Project piloted in a smaller area – ten wards in each city; with each one ward - consists of 10,000 HHs, shops, market yards, institutions, religious, academic institutions, hospitals etc. Strategies for scaling up and replication will be developed from results from pilot to cover the city.
Operations at the SK.
Plastic waste operations would be classified as:
PET, PE, HDPE, LDPE, PVC, PS and PP. Waste to be mechanically bailed category-wise and supplied to Recyclers (produce pallets or others), cement kilns (co-generation) etc.
Plastic waste less than 50 microns, multilayered shredding them in 2.4 mm size goes for road making, after mixing with bitumen, or making lumber blocks/RDF used in construction, recyclers or to the cement plants for co-processing. etc.
Framework for Plastic Waste Collection, Segregation & Recycling
