Mandya district’s first plastic waste management unit inaugurated at Shettihalli village at KR Pet

The first plastic waste management unit in Karnataka’s Mandya district was inaugurated at Shettihalli village in Chowdanahalli Gram Panchayat of KR Pet taluk under the Swachh Bharat Mission on Tuesday.

KR Pet MLA HT Manju, who inaugurated the unit, said that central and state governments are giving high priority to cleanliness and waste management and providing necessary infrastructure even in rural areas.

He said that indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste has adverse effects on the environment and human health. Burning plastics causes air pollution, while plastic waste also impedes the flow of rainwater.

Therefore, according to him, it is the responsibility of every individual to sort plastic waste at source and dispose of it scientifically.

He appreciated the Chowdanahalli Gram Panchayat for successfully operationalizing the plastic waste management unit by making proper use of the basic infrastructure provided by the government. Steps should be taken to extend this system to all gram panchayats in the taluk, he said.

He called for more efficient door-to-door collection of dry waste. Along with dry waste collection and sorting, wet waste should be composted locally to reduce waste generation, he said.

The role of women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) is significant for the successful functioning of the Plastic Waste Management Unit. The active involvement of women in waste collection and management of the unit, including driving the vehicles, was a role model for others, he said, congratulating the paramedics.

While the government can provide the infrastructure for effective management of solid, liquid and plastic waste, it is the commitment and responsibility of local staff and the cooperation of the people that are key to ensuring that the facilities are effectively managed and their real benefits reach the people, he said.

Explaining the working of the plastic waste management unit, Mandya Zilla Panchayat CEO KR Nandini said that the plastic waste is sorted into different categories, compacted and made into bales before being sent to recycling units and factories.

She shed light on the process of collecting, sorting and compacting plastic waste and the benefits of the unit and explained the possibilities of sending scientifically treated plastic waste for recycling and generating income from the waste.

She pointed out that the indiscriminate handling of plastic waste adversely affects the environment. Plastic materials have recycling value if they are scientifically collected, separated and packaged for recycling.

This would not only ensure that plastic waste was managed in an environmentally safe manner, but also create an opportunity to generate income from the waste. By using the revenue generated by the unit for waste collection and management activities, a self-sufficient and sustainable waste management system can be developed, she said.

A special feature was the involvement of women self-help groups in the collection and management of plastic waste, Ms. Nandini said. The fact that the women were trained in operating the unit, using machinery and collecting waste and worked with confidence was an inspiration to other panchayats as well, she added.

She said there are plans to further expand the plastic waste management system in KR Pet taluk. Problems in all gram panchayats will be identified, baseline surveys and assessments will be conducted and necessary action will be taken, she assured.

Published – 9 Sep 2026 18:38 IST