Jammu, May 22 : Jammu city is experiencing a remarkable transformation into a “clean and green city,” with visible improvements in cleanliness across streets, footpaths, flyovers, and residential areas.
Playing a pivotal role in this positive change is the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), also known as the ‘Swachhta Kendra’ (cleanliness center), established in 2021.
As the first-ever MRF in Jammu and Kashmir, situated on the outskirts of the city, it operates through a collaboration between the Regional and Urban Development Agency (RUDA) and the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). The facility employs a sustainable approach to integrated plastic waste management and efficient recycling practices within the city.
“The Jammu MRF is a pioneering initiative. It has been established in partnership with the Jammu Municipal Corporation and has been operational for nearly three years now, with a daily capacity to process five tonnes of waste. Presently, we collect, segregate, and recycle approximately 150 to 200 tonnes of waste each month,” shared Sajeev Arora, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RUDA, in an interview with PTI.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the MRF collects, separates, and processes dry waste before sending it to recycling centers. This significant effort contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions, striving to make the city clean and environmentally sustainable.
“We have already collected 7,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste, which has been successfully segregated and recycled. From an environmental perspective, every kilogram of plastic waste collected indirectly prevents three kilograms of carbon emissions. Through our efforts, we have already reduced 20,000 to 22,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions in the atmosphere,” stated Arora.
The city corporation employs sanitation workers responsible for collecting segregated wet and dry waste from households and public areas. The waste is either directly transported to the MRF or delivered to mini-sorting stations for further segregation and recycling.
Arora highlighted the positive economic impact of the waste collection system, stating, “We engage waste collectors, whose livelihoods depend on trash collection. They sell the waste to the MRF, enabling us to purchase it from them. Currently, we have 450 rag pickers and waste pickers, known as ‘safaie mitras,’ who are connected to the project.” Additionally, plans are underway to establish a material recycling center in the city.
“The RUDA is in the process of setting up its material recycling center to convert plastic waste into products. Orders for procurement of machines have been placed, and they are expected to be installed within a period of a month and a half,” Arora added.
