Plastic Free Kashid - A Green Initiative

        Dr. Bharat Bastewad , IAS

                                                                    Chief Executive Officer,

                                                                    Zilla Parishad, Raigad

Sanctified by the touch of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Raigad district boasts a picturesque coastline. The district has a total of 811 Gram Panchayats spread across 15 talukas. Raigad has a coastline extending 240 km and 13 popular beaches, which attract 5 to 7 lakh tourists weekly. Kashid is one of them, located on the Alibaug-Murud road. Kashid Gram Panchayat, in Murud taluka, features a three-kilometer-long beach. With a population of 1,750, the beach in Kashid is a major tourist attraction.

The number of tourists visiting the beach is steadily increasing, with an average of 1 lakh tourists visiting the beach every week.

Issues:

The large influx of tourists at Kashid Beach has resulted in a significant amount of garbage, including plastic bottles, thermocol, shoes, clothes, glass bottles, and fishing nets. As a result, the beach area and the surrounding roads appeared unhygienic.

Public Awareness:

Women and officials from self-help groups, Kashid village panchayat officials, and local shopkeepers on the beach were trained and made aware of the plastic waste issue. Plastic waste was collected from households, and public awareness about plastic was raised through rallies, street plays, and the distribution of two dustbins to families, along with cloth bags.

Plastic and other garbage from the beach is collected by the Gram Panchayat, women garbage collectors, school students, and voluntary organizations. Together, they participate in a Shramdan campaign, which has been highly effective in collecting plastic waste.

Solution:

Due to the significant amount of plastic waste in Kashid, a fund of 16 lakh rupees was allocated for the construction of a Block-level Plastic Waste Management Unit. This unit includes plastic collection cages, two manure pits, and a plastic collection and management center under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan through the Raigad Zilla Parishad. The center is equipped with a shed for plastic collection, a shredder, and a baling machine for plastic crushing. Dry waste is collected, sorted, and sent for recycling and further processing.

Since Gram Panchayats were limited in terms of waste collection, sorting, and recycling, an MOU was signed with the Raigad Zilla Parishad and a Mumbai-based NGO named AMHI, which is experienced in plastic waste management. This organization collects plastic from households, hotels, cottages, and beach stall holders and sends it for further processing. To cover the expenses, a cleaning tax is collected from hotels and cottages.

Garbage Processing:

In this project, waste from seven villages—Kashid, Nandgaon, Korlai, Vihoor, Majgaon, and Usroli—is processed. A total of 10,000 kg of plastic is collected every month, of which 9,117 kg is sent for recycling.

1.    Plastic: Shakti Plastic, Palghar – they make granules from plastic.

2.    Thermocol: K.K. Nag, Pune – they make photo frames by melting thermocol.

3.    Microplastic and Marine Plastic: JK Cement, Dalmia Cement – these are used as fuel in cement factories.

4.    Good Clothes: Donated to Goonj Foundation.

5.    D.N. Eco Co., Khopoli: They make school benches and paver blocks from plastic.

6.    PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and Glass Bottles: Collected by Bhangarwala and others; remaining plastic is sold to local scrap dealers.

Revenue Model:

A.   Plastic Collection (1 Month): 10 tons

B.     Cost incurred for waste collection, segregation, bailing, and shredding (Transportation, Electricity Bill, and Employee Honorarium): Rs. 6.25 Lakhs p.m.

C.    Income Raised: Rs. 6.25 Lakhs p.m.

Amount earned from selling plastic: Rs. 35,000 per month

Other funds raised:

Godrej EPR Fund: Rs. 30,000

Marathon competition organized by Aamhi Trust Mumbai: Rs. 4 Lakhs p.a. (Annually earned Rs. 48 Lakhs)

Hexa Company EPR fund: Rs. 1 Lakh p.m.

User Charges from Bungalow Owners: Rs. 60,000 p.m.

Results/Outcomes:

1.    The project leads to environmental conservation by collecting and recycling different types of plastics.

2.    The beach became cleaner, attracting more tourists and reducing the spread of epidemics caused by unsanitary conditions.

3.    Citizen participation in plastic collection increased, as visible improvements in cleanliness were observed.

4.    The plastic collection center helped keep Kashid clean, beautiful, and environmentally friendly.

5.    Local people were provided with employment.

6.    Tourists received excellent services.

Kashid Beach