In a unique initiative to go-green, Western Railways has installed a PET (polythene terephthalate) bottle crushing machine in Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express. The Rajdhani Express is a super fast train that runs between Mumbai Central and New Delhi.

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The initiative by the Western Railways comes after the Central Government imposed a ban on single-use plastic. The bottle crusher was installed on the train as a part of the India Railways’ Swacha Bharat and Go-Green mission.

PET machine can accept all kinds of plastic bottles 

The PET machine can crush up to 3,000 bottles per day and is capable of recycling 90 per cent waste bottles. The installed PET machines can accept all types of plastic bottles ranging from 200ml to 2.5 liters. The internal storage bin of the machine has storage of approximately 20 liters which is equivalent to 1,500 bottles.

Western Railways' move of installing a PET machine is expected to reduce 100 per cent carbon footprints. This will also prevent littering in landfills from bottle waste.

PM Modi urges India to stop using single-use plastic

During his Independence Day speech, PM Modi had pitched for India to go single-use plastic-free. "Can we free India from single-use plastic? The time for implementing such an idea has come. My teams will be mobilised to work in this direction. Let a significant step be made on October 2,” PM Modi said.

Plastic Waste management rules (2016) were also amended by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. As per the new law, manufacturers, suppliers, and sellers of plastic (and plastic products) across the country will now be required to phase out plastic made products within two years. 

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(With inputs from ANI)