Punjab’s new Green Credit Programme pays US$35.62 for plastic bottle recycling

PAKISTAN – Punjab has launched a Green Credit Programme offering financial incentives to citizens for environmentally friendly activities, including recycling plastic bottles, with participants able to earn up to Rs10,000 (US$35.62) per collection cycle.

Under the scheme, participants can earn up to Rs2,500 (US$8.91) in green credits for collecting one kilogram of empty plastic bottles. 

A maximum of four kilograms may be submitted per participant, making the total potential earning Rs10,000 (US$35.62). 

In Lahore, two vendors currently handle the purchase and collection of these bottles, which are then sent for recycling. 

The initiative creates a direct financial link between household waste generation and industrial recycling streams, giving residents a tangible incentive to segregate and return used packaging rather than discard it.

Programme Covers 38 Environmentally Friendly Activities

Beyond bottle recycling, the programme encompasses tree planting, electric bike and scooter use, rainwater conservation and recharge well construction. 

Participants can also earn credits by reporting smoke-emitting vehicles and industrial units operating without zigzag technology. Cycling and planting ten trees feature on the eligible activities list. 

The programme currently covers 38 environment-friendly activities in total, reflecting a broad approach to incentivising behavioural change across transportation, waste management and air quality.

US$130,057 Disbursed to Citizens So Far

According to reports, Rs36.5 million (US$130,057) has already been paid to citizens under the scheme, with approximately Rs16.5 million (US$58,793) disbursed during the last three months. 

The acceleration in payments suggests growing participation and administrative capacity as the programme matures. By tying rewards directly to verified actions, the initiative aims to build habits that persist beyond the incentive period.

Plastic Recycling Incentives Address Regional Packaging Waste

The programme responds to mounting packaging waste volumes across Punjab, where rapid urbanisation and rising consumption of bottled beverages have increased the burden on municipal collection systems. 

By compensating residents for recovered plastic, authorities reduce landfill pressure while supplying recyclers with feedstock. 

Such schemes complement Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks emerging across the region, which require manufacturers to fund recovery and recycling of packaging they place on the market. 

Pakistan’s informal waste sector already recovers significant volumes, and formalised incentive programmes may improve traceability and working conditions for collectors. 

The programme’s multi-category design also addresses broader environmental priorities, linking recycling incentives with emissions reduction and water conservation objectives under a single administrative framework.

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