DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION From To ‘The Commissioner, ‘The Principals of All Government, Directorate of Technical Education, Government-Aided and Guindy, Self-Financing Polytechnic Chennai 600 025. Colleges. Lr. No. 18087 / NSS / 2018 dated 13-3-2019 Sir / Madam, Sub: Higher Education - TNPCB - Plastic Free Tamil Nadu ~ Installation of Reverse Vending buy back machine viz a viz “smart dust bin in order to recycle the PET bottles / cool drink tins, etc ~ Reg. Ref:1. D. O. Letter No. T1 / TNPCB / F .015528 / Plastic Ban / 2019-3 dated 8.2.19 from Principal Secretary / Chairman (FAC), Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai. 2. Letter No.3450 / A2 / 2019-1 dated 7.3.2019 from Additional Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Chennai -9. 3. This Office Letter No. No. 18087 / NSS / 2018 dated 28-12-2018. I wish to inform that this Office has requested to take immediate steps for the implementation of ban on one time use and throwaway plastics at the Office / Department / Institutions from 1 January,2019 vide letter (3) cited under reference. In addition to the above, Government of Tamil Nadu is moving to the next step in this regard for recycling of plastic wastes. In this connection, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has inaugurated the reverse vending buy back machine viz a viz “smart dust bin” on 31.1.2019. The Principal Secretary / Chairman (FAC), Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board added that in order to prevent the impacts on environment due to accumulation of plastic wastes and also to support interest of the public on environment, the “smart dust bin” with by back option shall be installed as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in public gathering areas such as Bus Stands, Railway Stations, Airports, Theatres, Shopping Malls, etc. Accordingly, the Principal Secretary, Pollution Control Board has addressed the Higher Education Department to give directions to alll the Universities / Colleges / Institutions of Higher Education to install the said reverse vending buy back machine viz a viz * smart dust bi their campus. Therefore, the Higher Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu has appealed all the Higher Education Institutions / Universities / Colleges to install the Reverse Vending buy back machine viz a viz “Smart Dust Bin” in their campus to recycle the PET bottles / cool drinks tins etc. thereby ensuring " Plastic Free Tamil Nadu”.I therefore, request you to send the initiatives taken so far on the ban on one time use ‘and throwaway plastics at your Institution and also your proposed plan of installing the said reverse vending buy back machine viz a viz “smart dust bin” in your campus thereby ensuring “Plastic Free Institution” to this office on or before 31.3.2019 for consolidation and onward transmission to the Government. By pro) For Commissioner of Technical Education