The Hindu   03.08.2012

Consumers may have to pay extra for carry bags

Raviprasad Kamila

The draft bylaw of the Mangalore City Corporation for
plastic waste (management and handling) has banned retailers from giving
plastic carry bags to customers in a bid to minimise usage of plastic.

The
bylaw would come into effect only after the council of the civic body
gives its approval. The corporation has drafted the bylaw following a
decision taken at the State’s plastic waste advisory committee meeting
in Bangalore earlier this year. The Secretary of the Urban Development
Department had presided over the meeting.

The
committee wanted all city corporations to enact a bylaw for including
plastic waste management and handling rules 2011 and get it approved by
their respective councils.

According to the draft, if
any retailer gave carry bags free of cost or sold carry bags with
thickness of less than 40 microns, the corporation would collect
“pollution cost” from the trader. The corporation officials would slap a
fine of Rs. 250 on the first-time offenders. If the crime was committed
again, the trade licence would be cancelled.

According
to the draft rules, manufacturers and stockists of unauthorised plastic
carry bags are liable to face prosecution and other regulatory measures
as conferred under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and rules made
there under.

The bylaw proposes different prices for
carry bags depending on the size. Details of prices (in brackets) fixed
are: For carry bags of 9 x 12 inches and 9 x 15 inches (50 paise) ; 10 x
14 inches (75 paise); 13 x 16 inches (Rs. 1) ; 16 x 20 inches (Rs.
1.50); 17 x 25 (Rs. 2); 20 x 26 inches (Rs. 2.50); 24 x 30 (Rs. 3); 30
inches and above (Rs. 4).

The civic body has framed
the bylaws under Section 423(29) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation
Act, 1976. It would be enforcing the authority of the bylaws under Rule 4
(b) of The Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 and the
Public Waste (Management and Handling) (Amendment)  Rules, framed under
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. According to the proceedings of
the advisory committee held on February 24, 2012, the committee wanted
all corporations to take steps to have separate waste collection points
across the city with the help of plastic manufacturers association, rag
pickers, and other stakeholders.

It wanted the
Karnataka Plastic Association to work out modalities to purchase plastic
waste from the waste plastic collection centres.

The
committee wanted the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to conduct
raids with the help of city corporations and file cases against those
who sold unauthorised carry bags under plastic waste management rules,
2011.

• The bylaw would come into effect only after the approval of the council
•  he civic body would slap a fine of Rs. 250 on the offenders