CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has installed a coastal litter monitoring kiosk at Besant Nagar beach, a reverse vending machine for the collection of plastic waste. The kiosk is eco-friendly and self-reliant using solar power from an in-house 5 kW unit.
It was launched on a pilot basis under the ‘Meendum Manjappai’ initiative and was inaugurated on Monday by Health Minister Ma Subramanian along with Environment Minister Siva V Meyyanathan, who also flagged off two electric cars and six electric bikes to create awareness about plastic pollution.
The kiosk also has displays and print information about banned single-use plastics and eco-friendly alternatives. The Meendum Manjappai campaign, which was launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin, has gained popularity with the government installing vending machines at 90 strategic locations across the state.
Tamil Nadu has banned single-use plastics and TNPCB shut down over 230 manufacturers of banned products. A total of 2,200 metric tonnes of banned plastic items were seized and fines amounting to Rs 16 crore were collected by the local bodies, a press release said.