The Hindu 11.05.2011
City gears up for total plastics ban
Karthik Madhavan
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Three days time given to traders against using them |
Photo: K. Ananthan.
Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra takes a look at the alternate
packaging materials displayed in the city on Tuesday. —
COIMBATORE: Beginning May 12, the Corporation will ban plastics in
the city. The civic body has given three days time starting Monday to
plastics manufacturers, traders, users and a few others to stop using
plastics that are less than 41 micron.
Commissioner Anshul Mishra said a few days ago that as per government
order the civic body banned the manufacture, trade in and use of
plastics less than 41 micron and added that storage of, carrying in and
sale of food in plastic bags were also banned. His announcement included
ban on use of recycled plastic bags and other products as well.
If violated, Mr. Mishra warned that the Corporation would initiate
criminal action and the offenders would face imprisonment up to five
years, or have to pay fine up to Rs. 1 lakh or both.
It was time that the civic body initiated the action because the city
faced serious problem in disposing of plastics, which chocked storm
water drains, underground drainage system and played spoilsport in solid
waste management. “The city generates about 600 tonnes waste a day and
more than 10 per cent of it is plastics,” he pointed out.
The problem with the 60 – 70 tonne plastics that enter the garbage is
that it is difficult to segregate the waste and successfully compost
the biodegradable waste. “Biodegradable waste from most houses comes in
plastic bags,” he points out and says that it becomes difficult to
segregate the waste. Mr. Mishra says that the Corporation will encourage
residents to go in for alternatives such as cloth, paper or jute bags
while shopping. This small gesture on their part will go a long way in
making life sustainable in the city. The Corporation will also talk to
traders to avoid plastics and find out whether they could offer a small
discount to those customers to carry their own bags. A supermarket chain
in the city already makes such a gesture, he says and adds that other
shops will also be encouraged to do so. The civic body is working with
the IC Centre for Governance in this regard.
S. Baskar of the organisation says the alternative to plastics will
be those that are already in the market. Solid food can be packed in
boxes and liquid food can be filled in aluminium boxes in which the food
can be carried without a leak.
