Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SHP) 

Mangaluru, Sep 27: To boost PM Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva,' the cleanliness initiative, Dakshina Kannada Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Ltd is going one step further by collecting milk packets from its customers. This act of collecting the packets is to make the district plastic-free. With this initiative, there will be no milk packets discarded on the streets. 

The union is planning to carry out this measure with the help of dealers. With this drive, the DK union will become one of the firsts among 14 milk unions under Karnataka Milk Federations (KMF) to pull off something at this level.

Union president Raviraj Hegde, in this regard conducted a meeting with 1,650 dealers from around DK and Udupi districts on September 27. Once the packets are collected from respective households, they will be sent for recycling. The process is set to be underway from October 2, on Gandhi Jayanti. 

For efficient recycling of the sachets, Mangaluru based Nature-Friendly Recycle Industries has been chosen by the Union. Plastic sachets as well as the PET bottles used to store flavoured milk products will be recycled. After the products are recycled, the proceeds from the sale will be distributed between the dealers and vehicle operators. 

Further, in the future, if the federation fixes a price for the milk packets and bottles, customers who give them away could even earn a nominal amount. 

Union vice-president S Prakashchandra Shetty, managing director Dr G V Hegde, directors, Kaup Divakar Shetty, Jagadish Karanth among others were present.