Jorhat, June 18: Two local entrepreneurs - Satyaki Saikia and Pulak Roy - have signed agreements with several civic bodies in the state to do away with the hazards of plastics under a solid-waste management project.

"We have acquired technology to manage waste from the Calcutta-based SKC Group of Companies. This is so far one of the best technologies to do away with plastics, which has become a major environmental issue of late," Satyaki Saikia told The Telegraph today.

He said only recently, an agreement was signed with several town committees in Sivasagar district and similar projects are under way at Diphu and Nagaon. "We are also in touch with various town civic bodies in lower Assam and soon our project would be implemented in urban areas in lower Assam," he said.

Roy said these projects would minimise the waste/garbage produced in the urban areas and convert waste to useful products such as bio-manure and bricks. "Most importantly it will convert the plastic part of waste to manufacture reinforced thermoplastic composite board (RTCB), which is a perfect replacement for wood and is largely used for making shutters, furniture and doors," he said.

He said the basic objective of the project is to save society from hazard and pollution created by the huge amount of increasing municipality solid waste.

"Our unique product, RTCB, cannot be further recycled to plastic products. Since it has a very long life and multiple uses, it will free our society from the curse of plastic wastes without forcing a ban on use of plastic materials. At the same time, the large amount of bio-degradable part will be converted into bio-manure, which has a large demand in the agricultural sector," Roy said.

He said the technology is presently being used in states like Odisha, Bengal and Bihar with success and with the implementation of these projects in Assam "we can do away with hazards of plastics in urban areas of the state".

Saikia said the project would also ensure jobs for local youths and be a source of income for the civic bodies by selling these products, especially the RTCB, which is in demand.

Roy said the cost of each project would be between Rs 20 and Rs 30 crore and sponsored by the Centre.

Saikia said the work on the project at Simaluguri in Sivasagar district would start shortly. "We have signed an agreement with Simaluguri town committee chairperson Swapna Gogoi Saikia on June 10," he said.