Jamshedpur: On World Environment Day, a new-age initiative to trigger enthusiasm among people for recycling plastic stood defunct at Sakchi private bus terminus opposite Jama Masjid.

A reverse vending machine, installed at the bus stand in February this year, has stopped working for the past few weeks. Civic body Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), which received three such machines from state urban development department - the other two were installed at Sitaramdera bus terminus and Bistupur market - professed ignorance about the Sakchi one not working.

Each reverse vending machine installed by Delhi firm Zeleno costs Rs 1.8 lakh and can recycle over 600 PET bottles and aluminium cans a day.

If a person brings a PET bottle or aluminium can - most fizzy drinks are sold in these containers harmful to the environment - to a reverse vending machine for recycling, he or she gets a receipt of a discount redeemable at any of the outlets having a tie-up with that vending machine.

The discount - from 2 to 20 per cent of the total bill at select outlets, including a grocery store, apparels shop, an eatery, among others - is a small reward for recycling plastic. The percentage of discount depends on the person's luck.

"When it was installed, we had hoped that plastic bottles strewn here and there by people would become a thing of the past. However, since April this machine is not working. We intimated officials (JNAC) but no action has been taken. One can find plastic bottles thrown all over the 2.5 acre bus terminus," said Dilip Jha, general secretary of Shikshit Berojgar Mini Bus Association, an outfit that coordinates nearly 120 town buses running on 11 specified routes, carrying over 50,000 passengers daily from the Sakchi bus terminus.

Users of the reverse vending machine, especially the youth, also miss the facility. Surya Kumar Sonkar, a student of Jamshedpur Cooperative College and Baridih resident, said he liked the device for its smart looks and convenience. "It had a touchscreen and looked very smart. Plus the discounts, even though small, were an incentive to recycle plastic. Now, we have no option but to throw cold drink bottles in bins. Some don't bother to hunt for bins, they throw it here and there," Surya said. "We hope the machine is repaired soon."

Asked, JNAC special officer Sanjay Kumar Pandey expressed ignorance about the defunct machine. "I am not aware about the status of the machine. It was supposed to be operated and maintained by the private firm (Zeleno). I will look into the issue and ask the firm to repair it at the earliest," said Pandey.

The other two reverse vending machines at Sitaramdera bus stand and near Chhappan Bhog in Bistupur market are working. Jamshedpur generates over 15 tonnes of plastic waste daily.