People in Lahore can now help the environment and earn monetary rewards by recycling plastic bottles under a new eco-friendly project.

 

Launched under the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Credit Program, the initiative allows citizens to deposit empty plastic bottles into Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and earn up to Rs1,000 in “Green Credit” for each kilogram of plastic. That is roughly equal to about 20 one-and-a-half-litre bottles.

 

The project is led by ISP Environmental Solutions with support from the Intratech Group and the World Bank and aims to tackle Lahore’s plastic pollution problem by encouraging people to recycle through financial rewards.

 

Lahore reportedly generates around 500 tons of plastic waste every day, much of which ends up polluting drains, rivers and landfills. According to Intratech Group Chairperson Gulfam Abid, “These new Reverse Vending Machines will collect single-use plastic items, including bottles, cups and plates. The collected material will be repurposed into raw materials for footpaths, road repairs and environmentally sustainable bricks.”

 

Each RVM can hold up to 25 kilograms of plastic and uses weight-sensitive sensors that reject non-plastic materials. The process is simple: users insert their bottles, press button “A,” enter their mobile number, and then press button “B” to see their Green Credit on the screen. They can also check their balance on a mobile app that connects them directly with waste dealers.

 

The app allows citizens to sell their plastic waste from home, with company staff managing the collection. So far, more than 18,000 local scrap dealers have joined the system and can earn Green Credit alongside their regular income.

 

In the first stage, these smart recycling machines are being installed at four private universities in Lahore. The plan is to expand to more public and private locations in the coming months.

 

The machines are locally made in Pakistan using advanced Chinese technology and each unit costs about Rs800,000. An “Eco Bricks Plant” has also been set up at Sundar Industrial Estate to turn the collected plastic into construction-grade bricks. The plant is expected to open in July.

 

Officials say this project is not just about the machines but about changing how people think about plastic waste. “We want people to view plastic not as waste, but as a valuable resource that can be reused for environmental and economic gain,” one official said.

 

For many citizens, this initiative could mean earning a little extra while helping keep the city clean and turning plastic bottles into cash instead of trash.