In a unique and eco-friendly initiative, the Punjab government has partnered with a private company under the Chief Minister’s Green Credits Program to recycle single-use plastics and reward citizens with instant cash.
As part of the program, smart recycling machines—developed locally with the help of Chinese technology—will be installed next month in four major universities across Lahore. The project will later expand to markets and shopping areas in the city.
The machine is user-friendly: press Button A, insert plastic bottles, enter your phone number, then press Button B. The screen will display your earned Green Credits, which can also be monitored via a mobile app.
According to the private company’s Chairman, Gulfam Abid, Lahore produces around 500 tons of plastic bottle waste daily. Using this new system, plastic bottles and disposable plastic items will be recycled into eco-friendly construction materials like sidewalk tiles, road patching materials, and bricks.
Here’s the best part: recycle 20 bottles of 1.5 liters or 40 bottles of 0.5 liters, and you’ll receive Rs. 1,000 in instant cash.
This program also includes 18,000 scrap collectors (kabariyas) in Lahore, who can register through the app. The company will collect plastic directly from them and pay them instantly.
With this innovative approach, the government hopes to reduce plastic waste, promote recycling, and offer financial incentives for a cleaner and greener Lahore.
