The Punjab government has signed an agreement with a private company to roll out smart recycling machines across Lahore under the Chief Minister’s Green Credits Program. Designed to address the growing problem of single-use plastic waste, these machines will allow citizens to deposit plastic bottles and receive instant cash rewards and green credits. The project is set to begin next month with the installation of the first batch of machines in four major universities and several commercial markets in the city.
The recycling machines, which are locally manufactured using Chinese technology, are designed for easy public use. Users interact with the machine by pressing Button A, inserting a used plastic bottle, entering their phone number, and then pressing Button B. The system instantly calculates the green credits earned, which are displayed on-screen and can also be monitored through a mobile application. The app enables users to track their activity and rewards, offering a digital engagement layer to the initiative.
Gulfam Abid, chairman of the company overseeing the project, stated that Lahore currently generates approximately 500 tons of plastic bottle waste each day. The recycled material collected through these machines will be processed and reused for environmentally friendly construction purposes. This includes manufacturing plastic bricks, pavement tiles, and contributing to road repair materials, forming part of a circular economy approach that emphasizes resource reuse and waste reduction.
The program offers significant incentives to the public. For instance, citizens can earn up to Rs. 1,000 by depositing either twenty 1.5-litre plastic bottles or forty half-litre ones. This approach is designed not only to encourage environmentally responsible behavior but also to engage individuals from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, providing an opportunity to generate income through recycling. The initiative targets student bodies, local residents, and shoppers who frequent high-footfall commercial areas, making sustainability a more visible and accessible effort across the city.
In addition to the public installations, the program also integrates Lahore’s estimated 18,000 scrap collectors. These workers can register on the mobile app to participate in the program, allowing them to have their bottles picked up and exchanged for cash. This inclusion supports economic empowerment while formalizing and recognizing the contributions of the city’s informal recycling sector. The system provides an additional revenue stream and digitized transaction tracking for these workers, aligning with the broader goals of smart governance and sustainable development.
By embedding digital infrastructure into waste management, the initiative represents a blend of technology, community participation, and environmental responsibility. The government aims to promote cleaner public spaces, raise awareness about recycling, and drive behavior change through financial incentives. With implementation beginning in key educational and commercial locations, the recycling machines are positioned to become a visible part of urban life in Lahore while offering a practical and tech-enabled response to plastic pollution.
