LAHORE: In a major step towards tackling climate change and plastic pollution, the Punjab government has launched a pioneering Green Credit Programme that will pay citizens for returning plastic bottles. The initiative aims to not only promote recycling but also lay the groundwork for an emissions trading system in the province.
Under this scheme, citizens will earn cash rewards and digital green credits by depositing used plastic bottles into smart recycling machines powered by locally assembled technology with Chinese support.
Key Highlights:
-
Machines to be installed in four major Lahore universities in July 2025, and later expanded to markets across the city.
-
Each machine has two simple steps:
-
Press Button A, insert the bottle.
-
Enter your mobile number, press Button B to earn credits.
-
-
Users will get a cash reward:
-
Up to Rs 1,000 for inserting 20 large (1.5L) or 40 small (0.5L) plastic bottles.
-
-
Rewards and recycling data will be accessible via a dedicated mobile app.
Environmental and Economic Impact:
According to Gulfam Abid, chairman of the partner private firm, Lahore produces 500 tonnes of plastic bottle waste daily, much of which goes unrecycled. The bottles collected through the machines will be used to manufacture eco-friendly construction materials like:
-
Sidewalk blocks,
-
Road patchwork material,
-
Recycled bricks.
The initiative also includes 18,000 local junkyards that can partner via the mobile app to have bottles collected directly by the company, making the programme inclusive and economically beneficial for informal waste workers.
Broader Goals:
The Green Credit Programme seeks to:
-
Engage youth, women, and communities in climate action.
-
Create a culture of responsible plastic use and waste segregation.
-
Move Punjab towards a sustainable, circular economy model.
This move is seen as part of a larger environmental push in Punjab amid rising climate threats, with a focus on combining public incentives with private innovation to deliver long-term change.
