Woman recycling plastic bottle via reverse vending machine
Under the Chief Minister’s Green Credits Program, the Punjab government has signed a deal with a private company to recycle single-use plastic waste across Lahore.
Locally made recycling machines, developed with Chinese technology, will be installed next month in four major universities and several commercial markets in the city. These machines allow users to deposit used plastic bottles in exchange for instant green credits and cash rewards.
The process is simple: press Button A, insert your bottle, enter your phone number, and press Button B. The machine will display the green credits earned, which can also be tracked through a mobile app.
According to company chairman Gulfam Abid, Lahore produces around 500 tons of plastic bottle waste daily. The recycled plastic will be used to make bricks, pavement blocks, and for road repairs.
Citizens can earn up to Rs. 1,000 by depositing either twenty 1.5-litre bottles or forty half-litre bottles. The initiative also includes Lahore’s 18,000 scrap collectors, who can register via the app to have their bottles picked up directly in exchange for cash.