Travelling by train is a beautiful experience. One meets so many colourful characters with a mosaic of cultures and expressions all mixing together to move forward a common destination. Not only many stories are spun, but many new friendships are also cemented during such journeys. However, there is another side of travelling in trains that often gets looked over. The use of plastic bottles that are carelessly thrown everywhere makes a cleaning issue and also raises a concern against sustainability. To tackle this very concern, Indian Railways has installed the first plastic crushing machine inside a train.
What’s in it?
In a move towards a cleaner travelling experience, a machine that crushes plastic bottles have been installed inside an LHB pantry car, train number 03840 of Western Railways. This is the first initiative of its kind, which moves towards a cleaner and plastic-free environment.
Recycling on wheel, 1st time in history bottle crushing machine installed inside Train-Mumbai Delhi Rajdhani to eliminate plastic bottle waste at source -proud moment for biocrux india @PiyushGoyal @IndianRailMedia @narendramodi @swachhbharat pic.twitter.com/CSFSJhMO9v
— Ajay Mishra (@AjayMis59993182) September 25, 2019
This machine has a capacity of 3000 bottles/day and helps recycle 90 per cent PET waste bottles. The Indian railways have, in a tweet, clarified that this crushing process reduces 100 per cent of the carbon footing and also avoids littering.
Also Read: 2 Dhabas In Hisar Are Offering Free Meals In Exchange For 20 Plastic Bottles
First time in the country, Indian Railways has installed a PET bottle crushing machine in the LHB pantry car (03840 WR). Capacity 3000 bottles/day enable recycling of 90% PET waste bottles from 200 ml-2.5 litre size. Carbon footprint reduced by 100% recycling & avoids littering pic.twitter.com/FejzuPbGsX
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 19, 2019
What’s more?
The Railway Ministry also shared a short Hindi film titled “Main Hoon Plastic Hatela” made by the Western Railway zone, with the motive of creating awareness against disposable or single-use plastic. This film depicts the ill effects of using plastic through the character of ‘Plastic Hatela’ in an interesting narrative portrayal. These initiatives embarked by the Railway Ministry came on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a countrywide ban on single-use plastic. In other news, Goa Tourism Bans Single-Use Plastic, Wants To Be Plastic-Free By 2022.
भारतीय रेल ने एक मुहिम चलाकर देश के विभिन्न रेलवे स्टेशनों से प्लास्टिक को ख़त्म करने का निर्णय लिया है । हमारे इस आंदोलन में सहयोग करें एवं ख़तरनाक प्लास्टिक को ख़त्म करने का संकल्प लें । pic.twitter.com/YQ4TBQuxdh
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 18, 2019
Plastic pollution is real. And citizens of this country are coming up with innovative ways to tackle this issue. Tirupati temple one hand has banned the use of plastic and will be using jute bags to serve prasad. North of India, has seen two dhabas in Hisar, providing meals in exchange for 20 plastic bottles. And now with the Indian Railways doing their own bit towards society, we couldn’t be prouder. We hope this is the start of a cleaner railway travelling experience and a cleaner country free of disposable plastic. Did you know Delhi’s Most Iconic Gurudwara Bans Use Of All Plastic Items?
First Published: January 03, 2020 10:47 AM