The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Corporation squads to enforce plastic ban

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 01, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Corporation squads to enforce plastic ban

Special Correspondent

Ban comes into effect from today

Two squads constituted for the purpose
Traders told to comply with the ban

Thiruvananthapuram: The City Corporation is gearing up to enforce the ban on plastic carrybags below 30 microns that comes into force from Saturday. Special squads will be pressed into service to carry out periodic inspection of shops and other outlets handing out plastic carrybags, disposable cups and other containers.

Corporation Health Officer Sreekumar said two squads comprising Health Inspectors were constituted for the purpose. “The squads have been instructed to issue notice to the traders found stocking or selling plastic goods below 30 microns. After a week, such goods will be seized and the Corporation will take steps to prosecute the traders under the relevant laws”, he said.

Civic officials said they expected the traders to comply with the ban. At a meeting convened by the Corporation earlier this month, representatives of traders organisations had agreed to cooperate with the local body in avoiding the use of low-grade disposable plastic.

Since March this year, the Corporation issued trade licence for shops only after securing an undertaking from the traders that they would not stock or sell plastic materials below 30 microns. Most of the plastics used in the capital are sourced from manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu.

However, the Corporation’s efforts to promote the manufacture of containers and bags using alternative materials like cloth and paper have failed to yield results. Paper covers are not suitable for heavy items or wet substances like meat and fish. One solution is to use waxed paper but that pushes up the cost.

One of the major uses of thin plastic covers is in packing food materials at hotels and wayside eateries.

Dr. Sreekumar said traders could easily switch over to food grade plastic bags and containers above 30 microns for most common uses. “The price difference is marginal. Besides, thicker plastic can be re-used,” he said.

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

Kerala