For ages, Dussehra epitomises Victory of Good over Evil. But this Dussehra is going to live up to that victorious spirit quite literally– against the demon of single-use plastic. In an innovative green initiative, the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will dispose of 25-30 ft effigies of Ravana, made out of plastic waste in an eco-friendly way across a few cities in India.
Ravana effigies will be disposed of mechanically in a representative cement plant at the Ramlila grounds. The plastic will be put in a cement kiln where the temperature will be so high that it does not impact the environment and its residue will not be left. As of now cement plants already burn plastic waste for energy.
The intent is to personify Ravana in its plastic form as a demon, bad for the society and environment. This initiative also highlights the role that the Cement Industry can play in, helping overcome this menace in its plants in an environmentally friendly manner.
Announcing the initiative at the CMA CONSERVE Conference recently, Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said “Single-use Plastics can be disposed in cement kilns and there will be no environmental issues as it uses high temperature where hazardous gases get absorbed. Very happy to hear about the plastic Ravana initiative on 8th October where CMA would showcase the process they are using to manage single-use plastic waste.”
The Cement Industry has collaborated with the Ministry on various initiatives under the Swachhata Hi Sewa. The first phase from September 11 to October 2, 2019, focused on awareness creation against Single-Use Plastic (SUP). During this period, CMA and the Cement Industry have undertaken extensive initiatives across 16 States, covering 377 Villages, and sensitising over 1 lakh people through training, mass awareness and waste Shramdaan activities.
In the next phase of SHS, the CMA Member Companies have extended solidarity to Swachhata hi Sewa by coming forward in a big way in working with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to coordinate a seamless network for the disposal of plastic waste in the Cement Plants across the Country. Both sides look forward to evaluating this experience to look at future possibilities for the disposal of plastic waste by the Cement Industry in an environmentally friendly manner.
