The Hindu 11.05.2011
City gears up for total plastics ban
Karthik Madhavan| Three days time given to traders against using them |
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.
