GPCB launches cloth bag vending machines in Gujarat

Ahmedabad : To curb plastic pollution and achieve a plastic-free Gujarat, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has launched an innovative campaign. As part of this initiative, cloth bag vending machines—similar to ATMs—have been installed at prominent temples across the state, providing devotees with easy access to reusable cloth bags. Also, reverse vending machines for plastic bottles, installed at seven major ST bus stands and one railway station, have already recycled over 9,500 bottles in just two months.

14 Cloth Bag Vending Machine Sells Over 5,000 Bags in 60 Days

Currently, 14 machines have been installed at prominent temples in the state, including Ambaji, Somnath, Dwarka, Shamlaji, Sarangpur, and ISKCON. Devotees can now receive prasad in eco-friendly cloth bags from these machines by paying Rs5 per bag by either inserting a ₹5 coin or paying through UPI mode. The initiative has received a positive response from devotees at the temples, with over 5,000 bags sold within 60 days. To further expand this initiative, plans are underway to install similar machines at 250 Amul Parlour outlets across the state within the next month. Shri R.B. Barad, Chairman of the GPCB, said, “We have strategically installed Vending Machines to reduce plastic bag usage and promote cloth bags, making eco-friendly options more accessible and beneficial for everyone.”

Reverse Vending Machines Installed at Bus Stands and Railway Station

In a similar effort, reverse vending machines for plastic bottles have been set up at seven major ST bus stands across the state—Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, and Bharuch—as well as at Udhna railway station in Surat. Since their launch on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024, these machines have successfully recycled over 9,500 plastic bottles in just two months.