Deccan Chronicle 09.11.2009

Green groups for plastic ban

Hyderabad, Nov. 8: The Andhra Pradesh environmental connect that includes officials and activists has asked the Exhibition Society in Hyderabad to impose ban on plastic this year at the popular Numaish. The APEC has asked people to get their own jute or other non-plastic bags instead.

The additional principal conservator of forests(environment), Mr C.S. Rama Lakshmi said, “The group strongly feels that Exhibition Society should be pro-active and take the lead in joining the cause by imposing a ban on the use of non-recyclable plastics besides reducing the usage of plastics in the All India Industrial Exhibition commencing from January 1, 2010.

“We are requesting the society to make arrangements for segregation, collection and recycling of plastic waste,” he said. The All India Trade Fair has banned plastic bags in the Pragati Maidan, Delhi during the trade fair commencing from November 14 this year.

The GHMC is clearing more than 3,600 metric tons of garbage every day. “Poisonous gases released by burning plastic waste is posing health problems,” she said.