Kerala - Kochi   

Plastic ban evokes mixed response

KOCHI: The Government move to enforce the ban on the use of plastic carrybags below 30 microns that comes into effect on Saturday has evoked mixed response from Kochiites. Many have expressed scepticism over the effective implementation of the ban.

Confusion prevails in the city as people ponder the ways by which they could ascertain the thickness of plastic carrybags.

“I have never seen the thickness of plastic printed on carrybags and other materials. How can a common man understand which type of plastic is to be used?” said Sebi Paul, a businessman in the city.

Lack of knowledge about the different types of plastic carrybags available in the market is likely to hinder the ban. V.N. Sivasankara Pillai, the former Director of the School of Environment Studies, the Cochin University of Science and Technology, said the order on the ban lacked clarity. He said that though the authorities had earlier banned the use of plastic below 30 microns earlier they failed to implement the ban.

“Do we have a mechanism in place to find out the truth if a trader says that the thickness of the plastic bag (sold through his shop) is 32 microns?” he said. Dr. Pillai suggested that a hike in tax be levied on plastic to check the excessive use of carrybags and other such products.

Merchants in the city expressed their reservations about the ban. K. Kuriakose, president of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, said the price of food items would go up following the implementation of the ban.

The Government should take alternative measures before effecting the ban, he said.

S. Sitaraman, secretary of the Association for Environment Protection, hailed the Government move to initiate steps to punish individuals and institutions found flouting the norms of waste disposal.

“Hotels, marriage halls and hospitals should make their own arrangements to dispose waste. Their licences should be cancelled if found flouting the rules,” he said.

Johnson George, who works in the insurance sector, said the Government should take urgent steps to encourage recycling of plastic waste.

Facilities for recycling such waste should be provided as unscientific methods of waste disposal led to environmental hazards, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kochi airport set to expand its wings
Anticipatory bail granted
Water supply scheme
Naval ships to have CCTVs
Government indebted to cleaners, says Sarma
Plastic ban evokes mixed response
Special drive planned
‘Expel KC(J)’
Speed Post facility
Experts confirm chikungunya outbreak in Lakshadweep
Survey for oceanarium completed
Kochi Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu