BCC cracks down on plastic use in drive to make Belagavi waste-free

Belagavi: The Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has stepped up efforts to make the city plastic-free by cracking down on the use of banned plastic materials across commercial establishments.

Belagavi generates around 160 to 180 tonnes of solid waste every day, nearly 25% of which is plastic waste, posing a major challenge to waste management and disposal. As part of the campaign, the corporation is issuing notices to hotels, grocery stores and other businesses, urging them to switch to biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives.According to district administration officials, nearly 600 tonnes of solid waste is collected every day across Belagavi district by 38 local bodies, including BCC, municipal councils, town panchayats and 500 gram panchayats.

With the increasing use of plastic, the volume of plastic waste has also risen, creating a major disposal challenge for local bodies. Around 16,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually across the district.BCC officials said that of the 250 to 300 tonnes of waste collected daily in the city, 160 to 180 tonnes is processed as solid waste, with plastic accounting for nearly a quarter of it. Despite deploying dedicated personnel and machinery for plastic waste disposal, the problem remains difficult to contain.

Hanumant Kaladagi, a BCC official, said nearly 8,000 tonnes of plastic waste is supplied to cement factories every year for recycling. The district administration is also exploring alternative disposal methods. BCC and the district administration are considering partnerships with private firms for plastic waste management, with proposed MoUs also aimed at generating revenue for the corporation.Measures such as awareness drives and fines are being used to curb plastic use.

“Such operations are not new, but we are focusing on creating greater public awareness,” officials said.Deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan said the district administration is formulating a comprehensive plan to reduce plastic usage and urged the public to join the plastic-free campaign.Zilla panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde said solid waste disposal units have been established in 500 gram panchayats to ensure scientific processing of all types of waste, including plastic. Steps are also being taken to curb the sale and use of plastic across the district.