Rajouri village first to install balling machine for plastic waste management

Srinagar, July 04: As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Bathuni village in Rajouri has become the first village in Jammu and Kashmir to install balling machine in the plastic waste management unit which is a significant step towards creating a plastic-free environment.
The balling machine was installed more than a month ago. It has a waste collector that collects waste by going door to door to the baling machine to reduce the volume of waste.
Officials of the Rural Development Department in Rajouri said the revenue generated through the waste processing will go into the account of Panchayat. “This being a border region the waste is now getting recycled and earlier people would throw it openly,” he said, adding, “It will benefit the locals and it will make the environment clean and friendly. This is the first machine in J&K that has been installed in the village as part of a pilot project.”
Sarpanch Bathuni, Harmeet Singh said the innovative initiative aims to address the plastic waste challenge and promote recycling within the village. He said the machine will serve as a crucial tool in the collection and disposal of plastic bottles.
“Collected bottles are efficiently crushed and securely packed within the machine. This sustainable approach not only reduces the environmental impact of plastic waste but also encourages the adoption of responsible waste management practices,” he said.
The Sarpanch said the installation of the baling machine marks a milestone achievement for Bathuni village in its ongoing commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the region. “By effectively managing plastic waste through recycling, the village is taking a proactive stance in creating a cleaner and greener environment for its residents,” he said.
The move has come as a positive change and generated local support regarding the importance of reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices.
Shakeel Ahmad, a local, said the machine will compress the plastic waste and then it will be taken to factories for recycling. “It will encourage people to take the plastic to the waste management unit and make the agriculture land free from pollution and plastic,” he said.
He said the move is important towards a plastic-free village and will serve as an inspiration for neighbouring communities to implement similar solutions. “Most of the plastic waste goes into the water bodies that also become a reason for water pollution,” he said.
Another resident said the collective efforts of the villagers, local authorities, and the Swachh Bharat Mission have played a vital role in making this initiative a reality. “With the successful implementation of the first baling machine, our village is paving the way for a cleaner, healthier and more environmentally conscious community,” he said.
Under Swachh Bharat Mission, Grameen Phase 2, the District Administration Rajouri has started a campaign for waste collection and management to minimise pollution.