The Times of India 01.07.2011
Collection centres for plastic waste likely
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has decided to ask the Chennai Corporation to set up collection centres for plastic carrybags that have been clogging up the city's flood water carriers and drains.
The topic came up for discussion on Thursday during environment minister T K M Chinnayya's brief visit to the TNPCB headquarters.
The corporation is said to have failed to adhere to the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2000, mandating the segregation of organic and inorganic waste.
PCB officials say the lack of awareness has resulted in mounds of recyclable waste piling up in the dumping yards of Kodungaiyur and Perungudi.
"The TNPCB will soon write to the corporation on the collection centres for plastic waste.
Unless such centres are set up, the use of carrybags will not diminish. There is an imperative need to check the use of thin carrybags, with the Centre banning bags less than 40 microns thick," said a senior government official.
The new government in the state has already announced its plan to ban plastics less than 60 microns thick.
The notification by the Union ministry of environment and forests in February banned the manufacture, stocking, distribution and sale of carrybags made of virgin or recycled or compostable plastic less than 40 microns thick.
No one shall use carrybags made of recycled plastics or compostable plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging foodstuffs, it said.
The bags shall either be white or made using only those pigments and colourants allowed under the law.
"People think it is convenient to throw away domestic waste in carrybags. The enforcement agencies are yet to streamline plastic waste management practices and the roads are full of plastic bags," said A Narayanan, a social activist.
Activists say adequate awareness has not been created on segregation of waste and want the corporation to create awareness and promote recycling of segregated materials.
They want regular meetings arranged with representatives of local resident welfare associations and NGOs on the subject.
The topic came up for discussion on Thursday during environment minister T K M Chinnayya's brief visit to the TNPCB headquarters.
The corporation is said to have failed to adhere to the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2000, mandating the segregation of organic and inorganic waste.
PCB officials say the lack of awareness has resulted in mounds of recyclable waste piling up in the dumping yards of Kodungaiyur and Perungudi.
"The TNPCB will soon write to the corporation on the collection centres for plastic waste.
Unless such centres are set up, the use of carrybags will not diminish. There is an imperative need to check the use of thin carrybags, with the Centre banning bags less than 40 microns thick," said a senior government official.
The new government in the state has already announced its plan to ban plastics less than 60 microns thick.
The notification by the Union ministry of environment and forests in February banned the manufacture, stocking, distribution and sale of carrybags made of virgin or recycled or compostable plastic less than 40 microns thick.
No one shall use carrybags made of recycled plastics or compostable plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging foodstuffs, it said.
The bags shall either be white or made using only those pigments and colourants allowed under the law.
"People think it is convenient to throw away domestic waste in carrybags. The enforcement agencies are yet to streamline plastic waste management practices and the roads are full of plastic bags," said A Narayanan, a social activist.
Activists say adequate awareness has not been created on segregation of waste and want the corporation to create awareness and promote recycling of segregated materials.
They want regular meetings arranged with representatives of local resident welfare associations and NGOs on the subject.
