SHILLONG: The problem of plastic can be solved to a great extent in Meghalaya if it can hand over clean plastics to Dalmia Cements for its processing unit as the company is looking for waste with calorific value to supplement the heat requirement for manufacturing.
Dalmia Cements’ offer was discussed during the meeting of the Task Force on Wahumkhrah that was attended by environmentalist, citizens and officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and others on Wednesday.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, WR Kharkrang, Environmental Engineer of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, said the Union Government has directed all cement companies to reduce coal consumption.
So the cement companies are looking for waste that has calorific value to supplement the heat requirement required for manufacturing process.
“They( Dalmia Cements) are requesting if we can get them the waste, especially plastic, wood chips and rubber crumbs and the calorific value of the plastic is very high, around 8,000 and it helps in the heating process of cement,” Kharkrang told reporters.
Stating that plastic is scattered all over the city and the more state can give them plastic, the lesser they will use coal, he added that it would take the pollution board at least a year to collect all the plastics.
It may be mentioned that the cement company wants clean plastic. “It will go a long way in taking out the plastic menace which we have now,” he said.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board is currently looking at the modalities. Transportation of plastic waste is one of the issues that needs to be discussed besides the fact that they need clean plastics.
The Pollution Control Board is also taking up the issue with the State Urban Affairs Department.
