Pune: Maharashtra Bottled Water Manufacturers Association (MBWMA) has threatened to go on a state-wide strike if the plastic ban is not called off by the State government. Speaking to the press on Thursday, members of the association mentioned that the government should put forth an alternative recycling policy than banning the use of plastic bottles.
In Mumbai, on Wednesday, the State government had asked the bottle manufacturing units to collect plastic bottles from the market and set up the recycling projects. State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam and State Industries Minister Subhash Desai held a meeting with officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the representatives from the plastic water bottles industry. Kadam on Wednesday had also suggested that manufacturing companies should come up with new solutions to recycle plastic water bottles.
And they should increase awareness about the same. They should also start collecting plastic water bottles and reuse it, said the minister on Wednesday.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Vijaysinh Dubbal, President of the Maharashtra Bottled Water Manufacturers Association said there are around 900 ISI approved units in the State. He highlighted that many manufacturers have taken huge loans to start a water bottle plant. He further said that the plastic used for making the water bottles can be recycled. “These PET bottles used for bottling water are totally recycled. And in that process of recycling, the bottles are recycled to make various other usable products. The government should induct such plants and boost this industry. The government should focus on establishing small recycling plants for the same,” said Dubbal. He warned that if the government does not take action, the association will go on statewide strike.
