Two-pronged approach in Coimbatore

The Coimbatore Corporation has taken a two-pronged approach to implement the ban on one-time use plastic items, which kicks in on January 1, 2019, following a State government order.

The first is the constructive approach involving activists, representatives of various trade bodies that consume plastic in bulk and members of society to raise awareness on the ban, the alternatives available and encourage the use of eco-friendly alternatives, says Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan.

The Corporation has held a series of meetings with representatives of the hotel industry, traders' bodies, caterers' associations and wedding hall owners to inform them of the ban, how serious the Corporation is about it and how they can play a role in reducing the quantity of plastic that becomes the city's waste. The Corporation followed it up, with help from non-government organisations, by holding two exhibitions to showcase eco-friendly products that can be used as alternatives to plastics.

Second strategy

The second strategy is to take punitive steps after January 1, 2019.

The Corporation has, no doubt, made a headstart in promoting alternatives but the result of it is not as encouraging as expected, says R. Raveendran, secretary, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore. The Association works with the Corporation in improving city governance.

“The reason for the not-so-encouraging experience is that the bulk plastic users are confident that the Government will not strictly enforce the ban on one-time use plastic goods, just as it has enforced the rule on compulsory wearing of helmets,” he says.

The cost of alternative products is a factor that the bulk users cite for going slow on moving away from plastics. But this has become a chicken-and-egg story as the manufacturers of the alternative products say that they are willing to reduce the price if the users order in bulk. In the meantime, the Corporation continues to grapple with increasing quantity of one-time use plastic in its waste.

Of the 75-plus tonnes of plastic waste that is generated a day in the city, around 40% is recyclable, says Suresh Bhandari, a waste management expert working in association with the Corporation. The recycling happens at various levels – from conservancy workers segregating high-value plastic times to make money to rag pickers at the dump yard in Vellalore.

But the problem is with the non-recyclable plastic waste and poor segregation, say sources familiar with the development.

Though the Corporation claims that 80% of the waste generated in the city is segregated, the reality is that only around 30% is segregated at source. The result is that the mixed waste lands at the Corporation's dump in Vellalore, adding to the waste lying accumulated over the years.