Lahore Launches ‘Green Credit’ Scheme to Reward Citizens for Recycling Plastic Bottles
The collected plastic will be recycled into raw materials for infrastructure projects such as footpaths, road repairs, and environmentally sustainable bricks.
A new environmental initiative has been launched in Lahore to combat plastic pollution by encouraging citizens to recycle used plastic bottles through a financial incentive program called the “Green Credit” scheme.
Under this program, residents can deposit empty plastic bottles into Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and earn up to Rs1,000 in green credits per kilogram of plastic, which is roughly equivalent to 20 one-and-a-half-litre bottles.
The scheme is part of Punjab’s Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Credit Program and is led by ISP Environmental Solutions with support from the Intratech Group and the World Bank.
Lahore generates approximately 500 tons of plastic waste daily, much of which ends up polluting waterways and landfills. The new RVMs, equipped with weight-sensitive sensors to reject non-plastic materials, collect single-use plastic items, including bottles, cups, and plates.
The collected plastic will be recycled into raw materials for infrastructure projects such as footpaths, road repairs, and environmentally sustainable bricks.
An Eco Bricks Plant in Sundar Industrial Estate has been established to manufacture construction-grade bricks from recycled plastic, with its inauguration scheduled for July.
The machines, locally manufactured in Pakistan using advanced Chinese technology, cost around Rs800,000 each and are initially being installed at four private universities in Lahore, with plans to expand to public and commercial areas. Users operate the machines by pressing button “A,” inserting bottles, entering their mobile number, and pressing button “B” to view their credits on the screen.
These credits can also be tracked via a dedicated mobile app, which connects users directly with waste dealers.
Over 18,000 local scrap dealers have been onboarded into the system, allowing them to earn green credits alongside their regular income by selling collected plastic through the platform, with company representatives arranging pick-ups.
Officials emphasise that the program aims not only to increase recycling rates but also to foster a cultural shift in how plastic waste is perceived, encouraging citizens to see plastic as a valuable resource for environmental and economic benefits.
This initiative represents a significant step toward sustainable urban waste management and climate action in Lahore.
